I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I responded to an online ad from an affordable dentist. His promotion was that he was offering crowns at a reduced rate because he had a new machine which allowed him to make them in-house, and he wanted to practice using it. I’ve needed crowns for quite some time and have been holding off because of the expense. When I saw the ad, I thought it was the perfect opportunity. Boy was I wrong. To begin with, I was in the office for over four hours. He said the machine was causing him issues and he could not get the crowns to fit right on my teeth. Finally, he returned, indicating he had made some changes to the tooth. He went back to the machine a time or two and eventually got a fit. My appointment was just a few days ago and now my teeth are incredibly sore. Actually, my entire mouth is in pain, but the tooth is causing me worries. Is it possible the dentist caused permanent damage to my teeth? If this is the case, am I financially responsible, since I responded to an ad in which he disclosed that he was wanting to practice?
Thank you for your guidance,
Grant
Dear Grant,
You experienced quite an appointment. Regardless, it would be smart for you to return to the dentist and let him know about the pain you are experiencing. When teeth are bothered and manipulated as much as it sounds like yours were, they can become irritated. It doesn’t sound like yours tolerated the repeated try-ons. If the pain is being caused by basica irritation, it should clear up in a few days. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can help you manage the pain until it’s gone. However, there is a chance that the pain won’t improve on its own. You mentioned that you had a previous crown. It’s possible that decay has been growing and the tooth is in need of a root canal now. Or, the trauma which your tooth experienced during treatment could cause a need for a root canal. But, proving this could be hard.
The dentist is ultimately responsible for the treatment he provided, even if he disclosed that he was an affordable dentist, or mentioned he was practicing and learning on a new machine. The ethical thing to do would be for him to want to fix any issues you are experiencing following his work. Unfortunately, if he argues your concerns, or will not fix the problems you are experiencing, you will need to see another dentist.
In future situations, it is most important to look for a quality dentist who can help you find ways to fit the necessary treatments into your budget. Spreading out the treatment costs, or maximizing insurance benefits are ways to help this. Financial options such as financing treatments or selecting treatment options at different price points are also ways to trim costs.
This article is brought to you by Enfield affordable dentist, Dr. William Cummiskey.
