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Patients are forking out hundreds of pounds to fix mistakes by dentists who refuse to offer refunds or free-of-charge repairs.

Citizens Advice warned of growing problems with dentistry - both NHS and private - with some dentists refusing to fix their errors.

The charity helped people in England and Wales with around 4,000 dental care problems last year, up by 9% on the year before.

Issues included patients querying the charges made by dentists, problems with payments and delays with the complaints process.

But substandard service was the biggest issue in 2015 to 2016.

A new analysis of 354 cases showed around three-quarters involved treatment that actually caused the patient further problems.

(Image: Grtty)

Issues included dentists cracking healthy teeth during a treatment, fillings that came out and dentures that did not fit. In one case, a patient paid thousands of pounds for a crown that did not fit, could not be removed and which had led to bruising of their face.

In almost a quarter (23%) of these cases, patients said dentists refused to offer a refund or a free-of-charge repair, despite rules saying they should.

Read more: Millions of children haven't been to the dentist in two years

In one case, a woman in her 70s paid £500 to have her teeth capped. The dentist chipped her two front teeth during the treatment but refused to repair the chips or offer compensation. The woman then had to pay £700 to have the damage fixed by another dentist.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “If a dental treatment causes more problems for the patient, the law states that in most cases the dentist should be offering to repair this at no extra charge.

Asking patients to pay could put their health at risk if they are unable to afford the further treatment.

“Dentists need to make sure that they aren’t charging patients for their mistakes and that they provide patients with clear information about how they can claim compensation if something goes wrong.”

(Image: Getty)

Under the Consumer Rights Act, patients who go private are entitled to have any problems fixed by their dentist or, if it cannot be put right, at least a partial refund.

On the NHS, issues with things like fillings, inlays or crowns must be repaired or replaced within 12 months.

The British Dental Association (BDA) has defended the profession and said NHS figures showed 84% of patients were satisfied with treatment.

It added that patients who felt they had been let down should discuss problems with their dentists who are obliged to correct mistakes.

BDA chair Mick Armstrong, said: “Over 20 million people are seen by a dentist every year, and official surveys consistently show very high rates of patient satisfaction.

“Dentists endeavour to provide high quality, effective, long lasting treatment, but as in any healthcare procedure outcomes can never be 100% predictable.

“Effective communication is essential, and where there is any potential that a patient’s expectations may not be met, this should be discussed ahead of treatment.

“NHS dentists will correct problems that may emerge following a course of treatment, and private dentists have similar legal commitments. We would encourage patients to raise any issues directly with their practitioners.”