Dentist struck off for negligence

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An Ayrshire dentist has been struck off over a catalogue of professional errors which left patients with rotting teeth.

Andrew Boyd, who practised in Troon for 18 years, was removed from the Dentists' Register following a hearing in London.

The General Dental Council was told that the treatment of more than 900 of his former patients had to be reviewed after complaints came to light in 2006.

About 100 of those patients required "immediate treatment".

Boyd worked at the Barassie Street Dental Practice in Troon, North Ayrshire, between 1987 and 2005.

His negligence came to light in 2006 when the NHS launched an investigation following complaints from patients.

The General Dental Council (GDC) heard how the investigation discovered that Boyd had failed to examine patients properly, provide treatment plans or record the treatment which was given.

In all the circumstances the committee has concluded that Mr Boyd's fitness to practise is impaired by this misconduct Marilyn GreenGDC chair

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

Dozens of them suffered from problems with gum tissue and tooth pulp.

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

Boyd was suspended in 2006 after he was found guilty of professional failings in respect of 15 patients - including a 10-year-old girl.

The girl was left with a leaking filling when Boyd failed to fit it properly and did not give her advice on how to look after her teeth.

Dental experts discovered other patients' fillings had not stopped their teeth rotting because Boyd had failed to remove decay.

'Pockets of pus'

One patient revealed she was told to try a different toothpaste after he examined her.

The patient ended up going private when she was left with "pockets of pus" in her mouth.

Boyd was removed from the NHS practitioners list after a misconduct hearing in 2006.

In 2007 he admitted a string of misconduct charges involving sub-standard dental care and was suspended for five months.

Boyd failed to remove tooth decay before fillings

The dentist, who qualified at the University of Glasgow, further admitted a £2,118 claim for a new radiographic developer was unprofessional, inappropriate and misleading because he had not paid for the machine when he sent the bill.

He failed to attend a review hearing in June last year and was banned from work for another 12 months.

Boyd, who chose not to attend his latest hearing in central London, made no admissions or denials relating to his treatment.

GDC chair Marilyn Green said: "The committee views Mr Boyd's acts and omissions extremely seriously.

"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. In all the circumstances the committee has concluded that Mr Boyd's fitness to practise is impaired by this misconduct.

"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."