A HIGHCLIFFE dentist paid out £11,000 in an out of court settlement after a patient suffered years of pain after treatment.

Dr Anta Riekstina from Highcliffe Dental Care in Gordon Road agreed to pay the sum to Helen Parsons, a 57-year-old receptionist from Bournemouth.

But she did not admit liability for the toothache, swelling and bleeding Mrs Parsons suffered after implant treatment between November 2014 and November 2016.

The implant has since had to be removed and she now needs extensive corrective treatment.

Specialist dental negligence solicitors the Dental Law Partnership took up the case and her dental records were examined.

Mrs Parsons said: “I knew people who had seen Dr Riekstina for implants so when I learned I needed one, I went to see her as well. I trusted she’d do a good job, and she seemed to know what she was doing at the initial appointment I had with her. So in December 2014, she fitted the implant I needed.”

After around two months she started to experience pain and she returned to Dr Riekstina.

“The pain continued but Dr Riekstina then started saying it must be because I wasn’t brushing my teeth properly” said |Mrs Parsons.

“I didn’t agree, but thought if a dentist was saying this perhaps she was right. The pain kept getting worse and worse. My gums were bleeding more and were inflamed.

“But Dr Riekstina never offered any treatment, despite my problems continuing into 2016. She kept implying it was down to my oral hygiene but I was brushing my teeth and seeing the hygienist regularly. In hindsight it was ridiculous.”

Mrs Parsons sought a second opinion and the implant was removed. Analysis of her dental records revealed that Dr Riekstina had failed to spot and treat gum disease which should have been treated before the implant was fitted.

“Having the implant removed was agony,” said Mrs Parsons.

“I’m now scared about having another one fitted. I currently have a denture to fill the gap. It was horrible. The pain and endless trips to the dentist were all for nothing.”

Dr Riekstina said: “We are sorry that the patient was unhappy with her treatment at the practice. My aim is always to provide the best possible care to all my patients.

"However, I would like to make it clear that I do not agree with the facts as conveyed by The Dental Law Partnership, but I am limited in what I can say because of patient confidentiality.”