A PATIENT has received a £16,000 payout after accusing a dentist of causing damage which has left him without feeling in one side of his face.

Graham Hancock suffered “irreversible nerve damage” after having a wisdom tooth removed by Willis Kabambe, who practised at surgeries in Southend, Basildon and Chelmsford.

Dr Kabambe, of Queens Road, Benfleet, is under interim restrictions from the General Dental Council pending a hearing to answer misconduct allegations relating to ten patients.

Civil servant Mr Hancock, 49, said: “After my wisdom tooth became infected on three occasions and I started spitting blood when I brushed them, my dentist referred me to get it removed.

“Despite it being an invasive and serious procedure, Dr Kabambe didn’t provide adequate information regarding the possible risks or that there were other procedures I could have.

“When he did speak with me, he completely misled me as to the proximity of the tooth to the nerve.

“He also failed to advise me that, because of my age, I was at a greater risk of sustaining nerve damage.

“There was a serious lack of detail on the implications, especially around the possibility of nerve damage as a result of the treatment.”

About 36 hours after the surgery, after the anaesthetic had worn off, Mr Hancock discovered he had no feeling on the left side of his face.

He said: “I didn’t know what to do about the numbness. It was affecting my speech. I felt like I’d had a stroke. The left-hand side of my face felt dead.”

Mr Hancock was referred to King’s College Hospital for specialist treatment on the nerve damage.

He instructed the Dental Law Partnership to take on his case against Dr Kabambe, which was settled with a £16,000 damages payment, although the dentist did not admit liability.

Dr Kabambe worked at Biting Edge, in Southend High Street, Great Knightleys Surgery, Basildon, and Goodleigh Dental Practice, Chelmsford, from 2010 to 2013.

Mr Hancock received treatment at the Chelmsford surgery.

A General Dental Council misconduct hearing, accusing the dentist of working in dirty conditions with unsafe equipment, was adjourned in February.

The misconduct allegations do not relate to the surgery in Chelmsford.

A new hearing date has not yet been set, but Dr Kabambe has been made subject of an interim order.

He must inform the GDC if he takes up new employment.

Mr Kabambe said: “I am disappointed that the treatment fell short of what the patient expected on this occasion and I hope the settlement goes some way to resolving the matter.

“Although I will not comment publically about individual cases due to patient confidentiality, I always strive to provide the best possible dental care.”