Dental Problem - Root Canal

What is the name of your state? GA
Had a tooth lengthening done 5 months ago from a visiting Dr to my normal office since they didn't do surgery. No appointment was made concerning a crown afterwards. During this time the dentist retired & a new one took over the office. Went in for a cleaning 3 months later. Still nothing about a crown.Went in last week for another cleaning (had gum surgery a few years ago).
Mentioned a slight tooth ache. X-Ray showed decay under existing crown where tooth was lengthening was done. Dr. asked why there was no new crown. Told her that nobody scheduled one. Records show work was preformed for new crown to be done, but nothing about scheduling. Dr said they "dropped the ball" by not scheduling the crown months ago. Now I need a root canal to remove the decay from the exposed crown. Had it done by same Dr who did tooth lengthening in his own office last week. They want to do the crown there as well. Who should pay for this work? I agree to the new crown & already paid tooth lengthening, but not the $ 500 root canal. Office manager doesn't see my problem. Wants the money anyway. Any help?
John

The doctor (dentist) who did the lengthening (?) should have completed his job. He was negligent because he neither finished the work nor advised you to go elsewhere to have it done. He should be sued.
Why did you go back to him? If you wanted to return to him you should have settled the matter of his charges beforehand. Going back to him even though he was not the one who did the preparation for the crown (or was he? He may not be responsible directly for the decay following the failure to set a crown in place, but he did apparently bring in the dentist who did the preparation, and that puts him into the position of a defendant if you do sue.
But talk to a lawyer experienced in dental malpractice. The Yellow Pages in the telephone book of a large city will have one listed. I hope your return to the first dentist does not complicate your case too much.

[ellencee]

John JM
The oral surgeon who did the 'lengthening' procedure is not responsible for the failure of your regular dentist's replacing the crown. The oral surgeon only supplemented the work of your regular dentist by lowering your gum to expose sufficient tooth length for proper attachment of a crown, which was to be placed by your regular dentist.

The time required to heal the surgical area sufficiently for crown placement can be up to six months and in some situations, even a year. With your history of gum disease, perhaps your dentist intended to make sure the surgery achieved a longterm benefit before replacing the crown and really did not drop the ball entirely, but failed to adequately monitor the status and replace the crown as soon as possible. If your tooth decayed to the point of requiring a root canal in four months, your dentist is being generous in admitting any fault for the need for a root canal.

If the oral surgeon is the same dentist that performed the root canal, which is usually done by an endodontist, he is still not responsible for the failure of your regular dentist to replace the crown.

Some endodontists provide crown-work in addition to root canals; some do not. If the endodontist who did the root canal can provide the crown, you can accept or reject his doing so.

Whether or not you receive the crown from the same dentist who performed the root canal, the failure to replace the initial crown rests with your regular dentist who has retired, or his practice.

The dentist who performed your root canal has every right to be paid for his services. You only have recourse against your regular dentist and, or his practice.

In the meantime, pay the dentist for the root canal and the crown (if you choose to let him provide the crown).

EC