"In relation to the composite - veneer - on the denture, Dr B stated that this was a temporary situation until the implant was completed."
The dentist said he had warned the man that if he did the root canal, a replacement of existing dental work, it might not be as good as if it was done by a specialist. He tried to refer the man to a specialist, but that would have meant a delay and the man was in a hurry to have the treatment before an overseas trip.
The man disputed the dentist's evidence on this warning, but Duggal on balance preferred the dentist's evidence.
A specialist who saw the man 15 months after the root canal was replaced found problems with it. She removed it and found dead tissue "along with a necrotic smell".
But Duggal said she was unable to make a finding on whether the dentist's root canal re-treatment was inadequate because her dental adviser, Dr Susan Gorrie, had felt unable to comment on the matter.
Duggal listed failings of the dentist in not taking x-rays of all the teeth to be crowned, not using a "dam", a thin piece of rubber used to isolate the tooth being treated, when doing the root canal, and in writing too few notes on matters such as the treatment options discussed.
The deputy commissioner also made "adverse comment" on the dentist for several matters, including not performing a full-mouth x-ray; not obtaining better quality images; and not delaying crowning the front teeth until the implant was ready for restoration.
Duggal told him to write an apology to the patient and do further training.