Two Crowns by Old Dentist All Came Loose

[ThreeCrowns]

This is in Washington State.

My old dentist put in a crown for my molar. The first crown came loose 3 times. Then he fit me for another crown, that came loose 3 additional times. On the third time I went to a new dentist. This new dentist did a great job, but I had to pay $900 out of pocket.

Additionally the dentist saw that the reason for the crown coming lose was due to the cavatives being removed completely thus it was eatting into the glue. Additionally the new dentist had to drill out the cavity that the old dentist missed and is now afraid that sometime in my life the tooth will break due to a weak structure. If it does break, it will require a bolt to be fused to my jaw... not fun. And a random chance, I was in a salsa class and ended up dancing with my dental hygenist who mentioned that others have had this issue...totally random. I don't really want to get my new dentist or the dental hygentist involved.

I'm planning on writing a letter to the old dentist asking for the $900 out of pocket, but was wondering if it made sense financially to hire a lawyer, especially since if my tooth breaks its gonna hurt my wallet and my mouth.

Thanks in advance,

David

 

[ellencee]

ThreeCrowns
Under the best of circumstances and care, dental decay can develop under crowns and under fillings. There is no indication that the original dentist failed to completely remove any decay present at the time of the original crown.

Some patients have repeated difficulties with crowns and fillings while others never have a problem. Those who experience problems with crowns and/or fillings often incur additional expenses.

I do not see an obvious area of negligence or malpractice, not even if you require an implanted post at a later date. In fact, if you do, it will support that the problem lies with the tooth and not with the dentist.

You can ask the dentist for the $900 but I doubt that you receive it and I doubt that you are entitled to any compensation.

EC

 

[ThreeCrowns]

Hi Ellencee,

Thanks for the input. Can I ask your background in the dental field, just want to make sure the source of the information has background on this and not more of a general medical opinion. I see your a RN, but not sure that expertise reflects back to dental questions.

Note, it is definitely not common for decay under a properly fitted crown. As it is capped, not exposed to any part of the mouth, oxygen does not flow through. Feel free to conduct and internet search or ask a dentist, additionally my dentist confirmed that this should not happen on a properly set crown.

Difficulty in setting the crown I understand, thats why I went back six time, with two crowns, is not the norm. People have issues agreed, but not this many. Definitely not the norm.

I'll probably move forward with the letter and if that doesn't work, a small claims court lawsuit. Again thanks for your opinion, but I don't think your opinion qualifies are you are neither a dental expert nor a lawyer.

 

[ellencee]

I didn't give you the answer that you wanted and so my qualifications don't really matter, do they? Too bad...I really do have quite a background in the field of dentistry.

Go forth and find out from an attorney that you have no claim. Consultations are free; just like the advice on this site.

EC

 

[ThreeCrowns]

RN as a dentist, don't know how that comes together, but I would guess based on your past posts that you represent the insurance companies a lot, hope you haven't turned individuals with valid claims in the past.

A different opinion I can deal with, but you lied in your response. It is not normal to have cavaties grow underneath a crown. No food, no oxygen, no materials should cause a cavity underneth a crown. That would be like getting a cavity in the center of your tooth and it growing out. That just isn't possible. Or is your RN background tell you that this is a common occurance, I'd like to hear another lie.

Keep saying your an expert... though you haven't said anything other then a lie and advice to not go forward with the letter. You aren't a lawyer, a dentist or even an expert... so as always its a free opinion, and I'm free to disregard it with my old dentist. Again an expert coming out and telling me this is not a valid case because of a release you signed, or you didn't give the old dentist enough chances, or I've had experience with this, I can take very constructively.

Having someone like yourself just post a random opinion that could impact a person directly is iresponsible. I hope people are smart enough to look at your past posts too see that on a vast majority of messages even with valid claims you are rude in your response, side against a suit, and claim to be an expert in all fields.

 

[ellencee]

ThreeCrowns
You are a complete and utter fool.
EC

 

[badgator]

Re:

-Agreed. Complete fool. And for many unrelated reasons. And of course, no legal case.

 

[ThreeCrowns]

I hope that everyone who has ever received advice on this message board reads the following: "You get what you pay for, and here it's not nothing."

Here is an update on my situation. I wrote the dentist a letter stating the facts and requesting he refund my money... and two days later I had a check for the full amount. Had I taken the advice of know it alls like ellencee who admit they have no dental background I would be sitting here with a big hole in my pocket. I wonder how many people took ellencee's know it all advice only to miss out what is rightfully theirs.

ellencee my guess is a recently divorced women who had a lawyer for a husband and know hates the idea of any type of litigation. Read her posts, 99.9% of her advice tells people not to do anything and deal with it. Does anyone who can provide actual professional advice have time to post hundreds of responses in a year or are they actually busy doing real work? Again, the forum is a great place to start getting free advice, but remember, it's free and any idiot or wanna be know if all can respond, as in my case.

I mean check out badgator, doesn't provide any feedback to the question at hand, only looking to flame a valid thread. I think these people are worse then ellencee, they don't provide any value in society other then to egg people on. I think theellencee and badgator probably make a great combonation together. By the way... the legal case was good enough to get me a check.