A young mother from Walsall has been awarded £10,000 in compensation after a distressing dental procedure left her with a painful facial burn and unable to sleep properly. Chloe Wills, a 29-year-old sales assistant, underwent two tooth extractions that resulted in significant complications, highlighting serious concerns about dental care standards.
Traumatic Dental Experience
Chloe Wills visited Dr Omar Narayan at Harden Dental Surgery in Walsall in 2024, seeking relief from severe toothache that emerged just four months after giving birth to her daughter. Following an X-ray, Dr Narayan diagnosed decay in two lower right teeth and recommended extraction as the only solution.
Mrs Wills described feeling like she was in a "cattle market" due to prolonged waiting times before the procedure. Despite her inquiries about saving the teeth, the dentist proceeded with extractions, encountering difficulties removing one tooth.
Painful Complications Emerge
During the extraction, Dr Narayan used a drill to break up a stubborn tooth, accidentally burning Mrs Wills' upper lip in the process. "The burn was so painful that I had to put my arm up to tell him to stop," she recalled. Post-procedure examination revealed a root fragment and bone fragment left in her gum, causing excruciating pain that interfered with eating, swallowing, and sleeping.
The new mother's situation worsened when she discovered the extent of her injuries. "I was really shocked to see the burn on my lip when I looked in the mirror. It was very red and bloody," she said. The bone fragment protruding from her gum scratched her tongue, creating additional discomfort during an already challenging postpartum period.
Inadequate Aftercare and Further Treatment
Mrs Wills returned to the practice days later in severe pain, where another dentist identified the protruding object as a bone fragment requiring shaving down. This temporary solution proved insufficient, ultimately necessitating referral to hospital for proper removal of the remaining root fragments.
"The shocking lack of aftercare was just awful," Mrs Wills stated. "He didn't attempt to remove loose bone fragments to prevent infection, or clean, cool and dress the lip burn, or advise me on how to manage it."
Legal Intervention and Settlement
Frustrated by her experience, Mrs Wills contacted The Dental Law Partnership in 2024. Their investigation revealed multiple failures in her treatment, including the dentist's failure to notice the overheating surgical tool that caused the facial burn, and inadequate assessment of post-operative X-rays showing retained fragments.
Nicholas Hampson of The Dental Law Partnership commented: "The distress and pain our client experienced was completely unnecessary. If the dentist involved had provided more satisfactory treatment, her problems could have been avoided."
The case concluded in November 2025 with a £10,000 out-of-court settlement, though the dentist did not admit liability. Mrs Wills continues to experience lasting effects, struggling to eat on the right side of her mouth and experiencing pain while chewing.
Lasting Impact on Recovery
The dental ordeal compounded Mrs Wills' existing challenges with postnatal depression. "I kept thinking, when is life going to give me a break?" she shared. Her experience underscores the importance of proper dental protocols and thorough aftercare, particularly for vulnerable patients during sensitive life stages.
This case serves as a reminder of patients' rights to appropriate dental care and the legal recourse available when standards fall short, with the compensation providing some acknowledgment of the unnecessary suffering endured.
