'Worst dentist in Scotland' is struck off after years of complaints

Andrew Boyd's treatment left one man looking "like the Elephant Man" and another patient spending 17,000 on private treatment to repair his damage.

He advised one woman whose teeth were rotting to try a different toothpaste.

Last night Mr Boyd was branded "the worst dentist in Scotland" by health campaigners.

Mr Boyd, who practised in Troon, Ayrshire, did not attend his hearing before the General Dental Council (GDC) this week, where his litany of charges included not examining patients properly, failing to take X-rays, not recording treatment.

The GDC chairwoman, Marilyn Green, said: "He omitted to take proper care of his patients on a large number of occasions, and failed to provide the basic diagnosis and treatment of common oral disease which would be expected of a competent dental practitioner.

"This amounted to the supervised neglect of his patients.

She added: "The committee has to protect the public and maintain its confidence in the profession.

"Therefore the committee has decided that erasure from the Dentists' Register is the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case."

Mr Boyd's errors at the Barassie Street dental practice first came to light in 2006 when a 300,000 NHS inquiry into 900 cases was launched following complaints from patients.

Craig McKay, 40, one of Mr Boyd's patients said he had been left looking like "the Elephant Man" when his face swelled up after he had a tooth filled.

Mr McKay said that another dentist later advised him he should have received root canal treatment.

Maria Watson, 50, paid 17,000 going private to repair Mr Boyd's shoddy work on her crowns.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of Scotland Patients Association, said: "This dentist is the worst I've ever heard about in Scotland. It's shocking that it took so long for his behaviour to be exposed when he was very clearly endangering patients' lives.

"Bad oral hygiene can cause all sorts of health problems especially if the patient has an underlying health condition such as a heart problem."

David Bradly, for the GDC, told the hearing in London this week 101 of Mr Boyd's patients were left needing "immediate treatment" after going to see him.

Mr Boyd was first suspended in 2006 after he was found guilty of professional failings in respect of 15 patients – including a ten-year-old girl.

Shortly afterwards his patients were re-examined.

Mr Bradly said 278 were "of major concern" and needed "extensive urgent treatment", while 333 patients were "of some concern".

Then in 2007 he was suspended for five months and the GDC imposed another 12 months last June.

Mr Boyd went on a year-long retraining course at the University of Dundee in 2007 in bid to remain in the profession.