WWYD::: dental concerns

brandywine2010 · September 2010

Argg!

I have a dental appointment tomorrow at 7:30 for a cleaning, X-rays and to get my new crown re-cemented for the third time.I thought I better take care of this asap in hopes that this IUI cycle is successful.

I got this crown in 2008. My dentist now tells me that I need a three unit bridge instead of a crown. He is not charging me for the re-cementing because this thing should have last a lot longer than it has. He also took two silver fillings out (molars) and replaced them with white fillings. I later found out that my inusurance doen't cover white fillings and only pays the cost of the silver fillings. I had to pay OOP for that and the white fillings don't last as long as the silver ones would have. I didn't ask for this to be done. Those silver fillings were only about 2 years old. I think he was just trying to make some more money off of me. GRRR! I can't afford another huge dentist bill for the tooth with the crown. I have already had a root canal and the crown for that tooth. I'd really like to get a permanent implant instead of messing up two other teeth just to fix the one tooth with a three unit bridge.I have dental insurance but still had to pay a lot OOP. My dentist offered to refund me the amount that I spent on the root canal and the crown, but he will only fix it with a three unit bridge, which will cost EVEN MORE money. He doesn't do implants in his office. I would like to ask him to give me the refund in cash so that I can have it fixed somewhere else, but I am afraid he will refuse. I just fear that he will mess up the other teeth, just to fix this one. These teeth are seen from the side when I smile and I don't want to risk him screwing me up even more.

I am going to switch dentists, but I am thinking about reporting him to the dental board as well. What would you do?

If you read all of this. . . .here's a token of my gratitude:

emu0013 · September 2010

ugh, sorry hon, I hate the dentist.....I would rather go anywhere but there.....Ugh, I would be afraid to let him work on me anymore......

Gingham · September 2010

Yikes. That's a tough situation. I don't think it would hurt to ask him for the refund in cash and definitely go somewhere else! I hate shady dentists:(

FmrAFBrat · September 2010

That is really bad. I'd get a second opinion & get my money back.

luvbabes · September 2010

I have been in a similar situation. I do not reccommend a bridge. Getting an implant is the way to go in my opinion. The crown will more than likely continue to fall off. I had a cracked root and my crown fell off many times. The dentist had to pull the tooth and now I'm waiting to get my implant.

I think you should get a second opinion.

brandywine2010 · September 2010

luvbabes:
I have been in a similar situation. I do not reccommend a bridge. Getting an implant is the way to go in my opinion. The crown will more than likely continue to fall off. I had a cracked root and my crown fell off many times. The dentist had to pull the tooth and now I'm waiting to get my implant.
I think you should get a second opinion.

What is in place of your tooth now? Do you just have a hole there? My tooth is the 5th back and you'd definitely be able to see the hole. How long do you have to wait for your implant? Did they already put the post into your bone? I've read a little about the procedure. How much is it going to cost you? Did the dentist reimburse you?

lynn97 · September 2010

Gingham:
Yikes. That's a tough situation. I don't think it would hurt to ask him for the refund in cash and definitely go somewhere else! I hate shady dentists:(

This. Sorry for your troubles. I'm headed in for dental work this week too, but I trust my dentist. GL!

catahoulatte · September 2010

I know it's late but I worked for a dentist for 5 years through college. It unfortunately is a very common thing, first off, for them to replace the silver ones with the new white fillings. The silver ones last longer and are less expensive, you are totally right on that. There is no real reason to replace the silver ones unless you have a reaction to some of the metals in the fillings or if you are uncomfortable seeing the amalgam filling when you smile.

As for the implant vs bridge, I think implant is definitely the way to go. It is a long process but like you said, you would be saving the teeth on either side of the one that needs the work, and the implant is permanent, whereas the bridge could have the same issues-needing to be recemented and all that.

Third- you will probably have a "flipper"-a temporary little partial-in that space while the implant area heals and you are in between stages. It is a decent enough temporary solution until you get the implant. My vote is for you to see another dentist.

PS-I am not and was not a dentist. This is my opinion from being an assistant for a while and seeing tons of people with the same questions and concerns.

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WWYD::: dental concerns

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