A dentist accused of pulling out the wrong teeth from a six-year-old girl insisted he was right to extract them because they were damaged.

Branko Krstic, 33, denied telling the youngster's mother the teeth were "blowing in the wind" but accepted he might have said they were loose.

Krstic, of Monreepos, Rodmell, Lewes, is said to have taken out four of the child's upper teeth and then altered paperwork to conceal his mistake.

The girl, referred to as Patient A, was meant to have four lower teeth removed.

A General Dental Council hearing has been told how the youngster was left screaming, with "blood everywhere" after Krstic extracted the teeth at the clinic in High Street, Rochester, Kent.

The girl's mother, referred to as Mrs A, has told how her daughter was teased at school and refused to smile after the work.

Giving evidence yesterday, the South African-trained dentist insisted the teeth he took out were damaged.

He said: "The first thing that struck me was the obvious damage done to the upper central incisors and their extra mobility.

"I then asked the mother of Patient A what happened because I was interested to find out why these teeth were damaged.

"She volunteered to me there was a fall. I found the upper incisors to be very mobile and I believe there was a fracture through them that appeared to reach the gum.

"Based on the clinical evidence examination I carried out to the patient at the time, based on the history I was given by the mother and based on the reference form, I made a clinical judgement these teeth needed to be removed."

Krstic said shortly after the treatment a nurse asked him to go to the recovery room because Patient A's mother was upset.

He said: "She said to me I had extracted the wrong teeth.

"She said I was supposed to remove the lower teeth rather than the upper teeth.

"I was quite surprised initially but I spoke to her and tried to reassure her and I pointed out the signed consent form. I also pointed out to her the referral form."

Krstic denied telling Mrs A her daughter's teeth had been so loose they were "blowing in the wind".

He said Mrs A was upset but later calmed down. He said: "After we talked to her and explained to her, she appeared more happy."

Krstic's lawyer, John Holt-Allen, said: "One of the allegations in this case was you, having made a mistake, having extracted the wrong teeth, dishonestly amended the referral form to make it look like you had done the right thing. Did you do that?"

Krstic replied: "No I did not."

Earlier, Mrs A told the hearing she was shocked when she saw her daughter in the Dental Anaesthetic Clinic recovery room.

Dental expert Roger Turner told the hearing each of the four teeth removed had been in good condition and showed no signs of being loose.

Krstic admits extracting patient A's four upper teeth and carrying out fillings to three others on September 21, 2005.

He denies altering the referral form, failing to follow instructions on the form, failing to examine patient A's teeth adequately, failing to get informed consent and not acting in Patient A's best interests. He denies his actions were dishonest and designed to mislead and place the blame on another practitioner.

The hearing continues.