An Oxford dentist accused of ignoring a patient as she groaned in agony told an inquiry he did not know she was in pain.

Hamid Mozneb, who now works at the Manor Dental Surgery in Headington, is accused of giving patients crowns when their teeth were still diseased, failing to treat infection and providing inadequate root fillings. Christine Schirn alleges Mozneb told her to stop making a fuss when she tried to speak. She also said she found it extremely painful when he was fitting a crown, despite having a local anaesthetic.

Mozneb, of Osler Road, Headington, told the General Dental Council Mrs Schirn had only complained of her tooth feeling cold and there was nothing to suggest she was in great pain.

He said: "She was nervous, but not in such a way that I understood she was in pain, or any indication of 'Stop, you are hurting me'.

"I asked 'Is it bad, do you want me to give you another injection?' She said 'no'."

Mozneb admitted failing to provide adequate treatment to four patients at Marston Dental Practice between November 1997 and March 2000.

He denies serious professional misconduct.

He told the committee he had been suffering from stress at the time.

He said he had no supervision after arriving in England to work at a dental practice in Lancashire in 1993.

He began working at the Marston Dental Practice in September 1995 but was told to leave in March 2000 after a row with the owner. After he left, a number of patients complained about the dental treatment provided by him.

The hearing continues.