A student described as “traumatized” has been awarded a £26,000 settlement from her former dental practice after alleged negligence led to a severe abscess and a near-sepsis incident.
Katelyn De Blick, then 16 and from Keighley, West Yorkshire, sought treatment at her local Skipton Road My Dentist practice in the summer of 2021 for a cracked tooth. Instead of addressing the underlying decay, the tooth was reportedly cleaned and covered with a sealant.
Within weeks, Katelyn began experiencing severe pain, swelling, and sensitivity around the affected tooth. Her parents said she repeatedly complained of discomfort, but the severity of the issue was allegedly downplayed by the practice. By the time she was eventually referred to a specialist, the decay had progressed into a serious abscess. Hospital records show that Katelyn’s condition escalated to the point where she was at risk of developing sepsis, a potentially life-threatening systemic infection.
Medical professionals later confirmed that timely intervention could have prevented the escalation. Katelyn underwent emergency drainage and antibiotic treatment, as well as restorative procedures to save her remaining teeth. The psychological impact of the ordeal has reportedly left her anxious about dental visits and coping with persistent pain from sensitive teeth.
Following a legal review, the practice agreed to a settlement of £26,000, acknowledging the distress and physical suffering caused by the delayed treatment. Legal representatives emphasized that this case underscores the importance of thorough dental assessments and early intervention, particularly in adolescent patients whose oral health can deteriorate rapidly if decay is left untreated.
Katelyn’s family hopes her experience will raise awareness among parents and teenagers about the risks of untreated dental decay and encourage practices to prioritize proper diagnosis over temporary cosmetic fixes.