A woman discovered her jaw was dislocated and suffered a prolonged period of pain following dental treatment at the Dublin Dental Hospital in May 1989, it was claimed in the High Court yesterday.
Mrs Brenda Harte (49), Ferrycarrig Road, Coolock, Dublin, is suing the hospital, of Lincoln Place, Dublin, for damages for alleged negligence. The defence denies the claim.
It is claimed that Mrs Harte first underwent treatment at the dental hospital in 1988 when she attended suffering from dental pain.
She had an X-ray and was told she had a chronic abscess. A filling was removed and later a tooth was extracted. In May 1989, it is claimed, Mrs Harte was required to attend again for the filling of a back tooth and that, during this treatment, she was caused further extreme pain which continued afterwards.
For several weeks she continued to have further pain and had a wisdom tooth removed.
Mrs Harte claims that by that stage she was suffering from pain in her neck and ear and on the right-hand side of her face. It was discovered her jaw had been dislocated and she had to undergo further treatment until 1992.