A WOMAN has been awarded €255,000 damages at the High Court over negligent dental treatment provided to her over five years from 1991.
The application of braces was inappropriate, destructive and negligent, caused damage to Esther Hammond’s mouth and teeth for years and she would have to endure further surgery over the next five years, Mr Justice John Quirke said. The treatment provided between 1991 and 1995 was negligent and fell below the standards required of a dental surgeon during those years, he said.
Ms Hammond (61), Redgap, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, secured the award yesterday against registered dental surgeon Brendan Bastible, who has a surgery at Greenhills, Co Dublin.
Bastible had denied the claims and also pleaded contributory negligence by Ms Hammond in allegedly failing to mitigate her injuries and losses.
The judge said the dentist had no qualification in 1991 to enable him properly embark on such procedures. He found that the wires which fixed the braces within the upper jaw and the teeth broke continuously and Ms Hammond’s mouth was lacerated regularly.