Vic Clarke, from Swansea, Wales, says her stepson Alfie Zilio, 12, complained of "excruciating" pain after losing part of his tooth on September 23. She claims she had to "beg" for a dental appointment on September 25, by which time the right side of Alfie's face had swollen to double its size.
Dentist allegedly refused to drain abscess
Despite being told Alfie had an abscess, the private dentist allegedly said they "don't drain abscesses" and sent him home with antibiotics, advising a return in a week. Photos show Alfie's face so swollen from the infected tooth at the top back right of his mouth that his right eye was forced shut.
When the swelling continued to worsen, Clarke took Alfie to A&E, where he was rushed into surgery to drain the infection and extract the tooth. After the operation, Alfie reportedly went into septic shock, and Clarke was told that if treatment had been delayed any longer, he could have died.
Warning to other parents
Clarke, 32, said: "If we'd left it a few more hours and taken the dentist's advice, we wouldn't have a child. It makes me feel sick and angry; it's horrific." She described how Alfie's face grew "bigger and bigger" within hours of receiving antibiotics, and doctors later confirmed he also had eye cellulitis, a bacterial infection.
Clarke said: "The nurses were shocked they didn't send us straight in and they confirmed sepsis. When he came out of surgery he went into septic shock and that was terrifying, his chest and belly were trembling."
Alfie remains in hospital. Clarke is urging parents to "trust their instincts" and take their child to hospital if they suspect something is seriously wrong, adding: "If you think your child has an abscess and the dentist refuses, just take them to hospital." The dental practice declined to comment.
