I recently visited Southgate Dental Practice for a routine hygiene appointment, which resulted in damage to one of my porcelain veneers, costing me over £1,800 in repairs. For over ten years, all six of my veneers remained flawless, making this incident particularly concerning.
Incident Details:
Damage Location: The compromised veneer is adjacent to a natural tooth where an ultrasonic scaler was used without my consent.
Practice's Response: Upon requesting Southgate Dental Practice's policies on obtaining patient consent and explaining potential risks associated with treatments--especially the use of ultrasonic devices near veneers--my inquiries were ignored. The practice manager later confirmed that the hygienist, Dr. Gupta's response was their final reply.
Observations Post-Appointment:
Sensory Changes: I experienced increased sensitivity and a noticeable change in texture; the top side of the affected veneer became rough over time.
Microcracks: Over time, microcracks became more visible, leading to plaque accumulation and potential decay.
Evidence Linking Damage to Hygienist's Actions:
Veneer Longevity: My veneers were intact for ten years without issues prior to this appointment.
Professional Confirmation: An external dentist confirmed that brushing could not have caused this type of damage, noting that improper brushing or natural causes would have led to issues within the first few years.
Damage Correlation: The damage is located adjacent to a non-veneer tooth exposed to ultrasonic cleaning, suggesting vibrations as a likely cause.
Dr. Gupta's Response:
Tea Consumption Blame: Dr. Gupta attributed the damage to my morning tea consumption, overlooking the fact that my veneers had remained perfect for ten years prior. She stated, "You have a history of stains on your teeth which has been attributed to the tea that you drink. I would anticipate that the staining you report now is as a result of the age of your veneers and your continuing habit of drinking tea."
Acknowledgment of Damage: When presented with a professional photo of the damaged veneer, Dr. Gupta acknowledged the crack but did not offer an explanation for the rough texture, writing, "I am sorry to learn that one of your veneers has evidently developed a crack."
Deflection to Previous Hygienist: She attempted to share the blame with a previous hygienist who had left the practice years ago, stating, "I was not the only hygienist who used the ultrasonic scaler in your mouth when you attended for your routine treatment at this practice over the years."
Admission of Ultrasonic Scaler Use: Dr. Gupta acknowledged using the ultrasonic scaler on teeth adjacent to my veneer, stating, "I assured you that I would be careful around the veneers and use the ultrasonic scaler on a low setting only to gently clean under the gum margins of your front teeth." Notably, all six of my front teeth are veneers.
Delayed Follow-Up Blame: While admitting to using the ultrasonic scaler, she faulted me for not returning to the practice sooner, stating, "It is unfortunate that you did not schedule another appointment at our practice so that one of my dental colleagues could have examined your mouth."
I hope to raise awareness among current and future patients of Southgate Dental Practice. read more