Top dentist 'bullied and belittled' patient

A DENTIST who left a pensioner unable to eat and in constant pain after botching her implants was allowed to carry on working, under supervision, yesterday.

Steven-Bal Sharma, one of the UK's top false teeth specialists, charged the 70-year-old almost 9,000 for the treatment and then "belittled" her when she complained that she could not chew properly.

Mr Sharma was earlier this year found guilty of misconduct after the General Dental Council and his fitness to practise was shown to be impaired for his "bullying" treatment of the woman.

Rebecca Harris, for the General Dental Council said: "Patient A was doing her best to explain that she still had pain and couldn't eat because her dentures did not meet."

When the pensioner claimed that Mr Sharma owed her money because the treatment was still unfinished, he said he owed her nothing.

"There was a complete failure to see the job through, which was then exacerbated by seeking to charge her to rectify the treatment," Ms Harris added.

Banning him from working without supervision, chairman Julie MacFarlane told the Scottish dentist: "At any time that you are employed, or providing dental services which require you to be registered with the GDC, you must place yourself and remain under the supervision of a workplace supervisor agreed by the GDC."

The dentist was earlier told that his "unprofessional, inappropriate and unpleasant" behaviour towards a 70-year-old patient amounted to misconduct.

Mr Sharma admitted all the charges, including not providing a written treatment plan or enough information on the implants, the possible risks and complications, or obtaining written consent.