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

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 re- garding the possible risks or that there were other procedures I could have.

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

About 36 hours after the surgery in Chelmsford, 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 Goodleigh Dental Practice, Chelmsford, Biting Edge, Southend, and Great Knightleys Surgery, Basildon, from 2010 to 2013.