Henry’s hoping for a steak meal soon
A GREAT-GRANDFATHER who paid more than $2000 for a set of false teeth that don’t fit has spent nearly two years battling for the right to a decent feed.
Pensioner Henry Coe, 72, of Pahiatua, paid $2213 in April 2013 for partial upper and lower dentures. But they did not fit properly and dug into his gums, causing painful, pus-filled ulcers, he says.
Nearly two years later, he has no teeth, no refund, and still can’t eat a solid meal. ‘‘I don’t know how much longer I’ve got left to live, but in what I have got left I would like to enjoy a decent meal. I’ve forgotten what a decent steak tastes like.’’
He has been surviving on soft foods such as mince and noodles, and the stress and pain caused heart problems for which he was admitted to hospital, he said.
The great-grandfather of five, a former plasterer, said his problems began around six years ago when an Orewa dentist removed some molars, leaving fragments behind.
He went to Pahiatua dentist David Symes to get dentures in April 2013. He told Symes about the fragments, but was told an X-ray showed nothing, he said.
When the dentures came, the bottom set would not fit unless forced, and both sets caused pain, infection and swelling, Coe said. ‘‘The pain was bloody horrific.’’
Symes put the problems down to to gum disease, and referred him to Palmerston North Hospital, where an X-ray showed bone fragments, which were removed. But the dentures still did not fit and still caused severe pain.
After returning repeatedly to Symes, Coe decided to have all his teeth out, which stopped the pain – but ensured the dentures would never fit.
He has now complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner. The commissioner’s office has written to him with updates, but in the meantime he is still unable to eat properly.
He also made an ACC claim for costs of his problems, which was declined last month. Murray Henderson, of the Wairarapa Community Law Centre, said it was disappointing that Coe was still waiting for a resolution after nearly two years. ‘‘Until he hears back from the [commission] he’s in limbo . . . It’s like he has not been taken seriously by any of the individuals or organisations involved, and in the meantime he still can’t eat properly.’’
Symes said he was co-operating with the Health and Disability Commissioner’s investigation, and declined to comment further.