Facial paralysis caused by negligent dental treatment

Facial paralysis caused by negligent dental treatment

The story

Our medical negligence team has secured compensation for a young woman who suffered facial paralysis because of repeated delays in treating an infected tooth

The details

Leanne* went to her dentist on various dates between September and December. She was faced with repeated delays in treating the infected tooth, either by removing it or carrying out a root canal procedure. 
As a result of the delays, Leanne suffered prolonged infection and an abscess in her face, which resulted in spreading inflammation. This put pressure on her facial nerve, ultimately causing Bell’s Palsy, a form of facial paralysis. If the infection had been treated sooner or the tooth extracted or treated, Leanne would have avoided the paralysis. 

The impact

As a young woman, Leanne found the facial paralysis to be very embarrassing. She has a permanent left-sided facial droop meaning she is unable to smile properly. She is very self-conscious when eating and drinking, because she can no longer drink from a cup without dribbling and, when eating, food falls out of the affected side of her mouth. As a result, she has stopped socialising and using public transport. She mostly stopped going to events with her children, such as sports days or school events. On the rare occasions she does attend, she sits at the back of any room to avoid embarrassing her children with her appearance. Understandably, the facial paralysis had a significant impact on Leanne’s mental health. 

Along with being self-conscious about her appearance, Leanne also has a constant dry eye because she struggles to blink, along with a permanent dry mouth because she is no longer able to produce enough saliva. In addition, she was required to have 5 more teeth removed, which would not have been necessary if she had received appropriate dental treatment. 

How we helped

Priya Ghataurhae, an associate solicitor and medical negligence specialist, obtained compensation for Leanne. This compensation addressed the pain and suffering related to the physical and psychological effects of the avoidable facial paralysis, as well as any financial losses Leanne had experienced.

As a specialist in medical negligence cases, Priya was able to secure a swift settlement out of court. This ensured that Leanne avoided the stress, anxiety, and delays often associated with litigation.

Priya commented that:

“I am delighted to have secured a sum in compensation for Leanne. She suffered a serious condition from repeated basic errors in dental treatment which have had a profound effect on her self-esteem, her family and her social life. No amount of money will ever fully compensate Leanne for her injuries. However, she hopes that the individual dentists will learn lessons from her case and that ultimately this won’t happen to other dental patients in the future.” 

What our client said

Leanne was very happy with the outcome of her case and the service she received from Priya and Shoosmiths, describing the legal process as ‘smooth sailing’ and commenting that she was ‘advised in the best way’ possible. Leanne also described Priya as being ‘so passionate about her cases and will not stop until we have the best outcome.’

*Client’s name changed for anonymity purposes

Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2025