Man took own life after Turkish dental visit left him toothless, UK inquest hears | Norfolk

A man who killed himself suffered from depression after a botched dental procedure in Türkiye left him without teeth, an inquest heard.

Pawel Bukowski, a 48-year-old forklift driver, had visited a private clinic in the country in January 2025 to have his teeth replaced after suffering from periodontal disease, a chronic bacterial infection that can erode gums and lead to tooth and bone loss.

Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard on Monday how Bukowski, a married father of three from Poland, expected teeth that had been removed to be replaced with temporary dentures, but was instead told he would not receive any and would have to wait six months before returning to have his new implants fitted.

His wife, Daria Bukowska, told the inquest: “He lost all hope that things could get better. Despite all our efforts to support him, in the end we could not save him.”

The hearing was told Bukowski suffered poor mental health after returning to the UK following treatment, compounded by fears of having to pay more than expected for a procedure he considered a failure, difficulties eating properly without his teeth and excessive alcohol consumption.

Bukowska described her husband as someone who “always took care of himself, his appearance and his health” and said the fact that the clinic informed her it would not do anything to replace his teeth for six months after removing them “was emotionally devastating.”

“He was deeply emotionally broken, the loss of his teeth had destroyed his self-confidence and his sense of hope,” she said. “Despite our constant support from me and his daughters, he was slipping away from us.”

Bukowski’s mental health “deteriorated rapidly” according to his wife, with a call to emergency services on April 24 resulting in his admission to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where a senior doctor described him as having “strong suicidal thoughts”.

Despite seeking help, it was decided that Bukowski did not need a psychiatric admission. The inquest heard that four days later, on April 28, 2025, he was found dead at his home.

Norfolk Area Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded Bukowski’s death as a suicide and told the inquest that a subsequent inquest had identified “several lessons” to be learned and it was “clear there were factors which impacted on the care provided to Pawel”.

Bukowska criticized the care her husband received, saying his problems were “neglected at every opportunity” and that factors such as lack of support and refusal to give Bukowski medication to ease his alcohol withdrawal symptoms led to his death.

“Pawel failed on crucial points,” Bukowska said. “I hope this doesn’t happen again, that other families can keep their fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. Pawel deserved better.”