What is the name of your state?California. I went to a Periodontist for a consultation (he came highly recommended by 3 dentists & 2 patients). In his waiting room a video was playing about Porcelein Veneers. I sat in the exam chair and he said there are ways to fix 2 spaces on the sides of my top 2 front teeth. I said "No, I like my teeth the way they are". He noted one top front tooth was a bit longer than the other and said he would grind it (I said fine because it was a bit longer). He subsequently grinded all top 4 front teeth (for "esthetic" reasons only). I looked in the mirror to see my teeth were much shorter and teeth were rounded out by the grinding that the spaces appear much larger. Now my teeth are ugly and I can't even speak correctly because of the airflow he caused by widening the gaps. My belief is that he over-grinded the one longer tooth and subsequently grinded all 4 teeth to compensate for it.
I went back to him. Prior to my complaint he mentioned he let the dental assistant go (interestingly the only witness to this procedure). I calmly complained about my teeth, speech impairment and he flat out denied doing it, he said he only grinded a little off and replied "So, Sue me". I will file a complaint with the state board. I've been to 2 dentists who say that porcelein veneers would be the ideal way to correct this (they last 10 years and would cost $4-5,000). One dentist mentioned why would a periodontist be grinding teeth when perio/gum problems are his specialty? (I was simply hoping the periodontist would offer to correct it even at a discount, but he obviously didn't want to admit any liability).
My evidence is limited to before & after pictures and many witnesses to my teeth appearance (one friend said they look like "snaggle teeth" "trailer trash teeth" now). I have no former dental impressions of these teeth and a dentist said that prior xrays aren't proof. This is highly stressful and his response "So, sue me" is highly unethical, unprofessional, and abusive and I'm highly distressed over this. I haven't lost any work over this. I liked my teeth very much before but I will never have my natural teeth again, they will have to be ground down to accept porcelein veneers, and there is no guarantee I will like veneers any better. What would my damages potentially be besides correcting my teeth for possibly a lifetime? Would I be able to seek damages for emotional stress? Or, would it be better to try small claims court & seek the max $5,000 for porcelein veneers (they will last up to 10 years)? Thank you.
I went back to him. Prior to my complaint he mentioned he let the dental assistant go (interestingly the only witness to this procedure). I calmly complained about my teeth, speech impairment and he flat out denied doing it, he said he only grinded a little off and replied "So, Sue me". I will file a complaint with the state board. I've been to 2 dentists who say that porcelein veneers would be the ideal way to correct this (they last 10 years and would cost $4-5,000). One dentist mentioned why would a periodontist be grinding teeth when perio/gum problems are his specialty? (I was simply hoping the periodontist would offer to correct it even at a discount, but he obviously didn't want to admit any liability).
My evidence is limited to before & after pictures and many witnesses to my teeth appearance (one friend said they look like "snaggle teeth" "trailer trash teeth" now). I have no former dental impressions of these teeth and a dentist said that prior xrays aren't proof. This is highly stressful and his response "So, sue me" is highly unethical, unprofessional, and abusive and I'm highly distressed over this. I haven't lost any work over this. I liked my teeth very much before but I will never have my natural teeth again, they will have to be ground down to accept porcelein veneers, and there is no guarantee I will like veneers any better. What would my damages potentially be besides correcting my teeth for possibly a lifetime? Would I be able to seek damages for emotional stress? Or, would it be better to try small claims court & seek the max $5,000 for porcelein veneers (they will last up to 10 years)? Thank you.
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