What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? California - I am 49 years old.
This is long- please take the time I need help so badly-
Dentist #1- had been my dentist for over 4 years. Saw him every 6 months, cleaning and exam. Over the past several years, my teeth became horribly sensitive. I was told my gums were receeding and enamel was worn off, told to use sensidyne toothpaste. 2 specifics: several years ago they sent for a preauth for a new (replacement) crown on tooth #15. My insurance turned it down, as the current crown was only 3 years old. At that time, if I was told about it, I probably said I can't afford to pay cash for it. It was never mentioned again, I was certainly never told that if it wasn't treated, I could lose the tooth. Another specific- at either my last visit 11/02, or the one before, I asked about a cavity I could feel in a front tooth- I was told it was too small to fill, needed to wait until it got bigger to treat. The big problem: by the time my next 6 month visit was due, it was horribly obvious by looking in the mirror that I needed extensive dental work- so I bought a HMO dental plan and went to a new dentist, where my estimate for work needed was close to $30,000.00!!! Went to another dentist (Dentist #2) for a second opinion- same opinion, but offered less cost. Dentist #2 pulled 2 teeth, #21,& 22 (no idea if they needed it) and did 3 root canals in the same visit (without my prior knowledge or permission) on teeth #2,3,& 6. Very shortly thereafter, previous crown on tooth 5 broke. My final visit I was fitted with a flipper appliance for the missing teeth that an assistant placed- it hurt horribly, the dentist ran in, removed and filed it for a second, replaced it in my mouth, and ran out. I heard him next door beginning a root canal on another patient, so he was obviously not returning to me. Whatever temporary thing he did on the root canal teeth lasted a month or so- then I had 3 teeth with wires sticking into my tongue and lower teeth. I have since seen 3 other dentists, who told me the flipper thing was useless, and that all 3 of the teeth that had root canals needed to be surgically removed (one is loose), as well as tooth #5 with the broken crown, and tooth #15. The front tooth with the tiny cavity may or may not need to be pulled- it at least will need a root canal and crown.
I have medical conditions that are made worse by stress, as well as chronic infections in my jaws the past 1 1/2 years for which my family doctor had prescribed antibiotics several times- and I can barely eat. Almost every tooth in my head either needs to be pulled or to have a root canal and crown, and there is bone loss. I am extremely affected by any discomfort, and any appliance is likely to be constantly annoying if not painful. I am told now if I go ahead and get dentures, within a few years I will be eating gruel. I am going through a divorce, and am disabled- cannot afford any expenses at all, but between yet another HMO plan and my dental insurance, will be having the work done as I can afford it beginning in October. All of these dentists have taken x-rays, and most of them seem to not even believe I've been under the regular care of a dentist due to the obvious amount of decay. I have called 12 attorneys and can't find one who handles dental malpractice yet.
Opinions? Do I have a case against dentists 1 & 2? Oh- and I returned to dentist #1 after seeing several others and getting the bad news on the state of my teeth, hoping at least he would see his liability and offer to let me make payments on the work I needed- his response was to tell me (xrays not even needed) that their estimates appeared to be correct, the work needed to be done, and I should stick with the new dentist because he couldn't match their low prices. He claimed no liability at all (of course) and when asked said I must be taking some new medication that caused all this damage in 6 months. (NOT!) He suggested I take out a loan to get the work done.
This is long- please take the time I need help so badly-
Dentist #1- had been my dentist for over 4 years. Saw him every 6 months, cleaning and exam. Over the past several years, my teeth became horribly sensitive. I was told my gums were receeding and enamel was worn off, told to use sensidyne toothpaste. 2 specifics: several years ago they sent for a preauth for a new (replacement) crown on tooth #15. My insurance turned it down, as the current crown was only 3 years old. At that time, if I was told about it, I probably said I can't afford to pay cash for it. It was never mentioned again, I was certainly never told that if it wasn't treated, I could lose the tooth. Another specific- at either my last visit 11/02, or the one before, I asked about a cavity I could feel in a front tooth- I was told it was too small to fill, needed to wait until it got bigger to treat. The big problem: by the time my next 6 month visit was due, it was horribly obvious by looking in the mirror that I needed extensive dental work- so I bought a HMO dental plan and went to a new dentist, where my estimate for work needed was close to $30,000.00!!! Went to another dentist (Dentist #2) for a second opinion- same opinion, but offered less cost. Dentist #2 pulled 2 teeth, #21,& 22 (no idea if they needed it) and did 3 root canals in the same visit (without my prior knowledge or permission) on teeth #2,3,& 6. Very shortly thereafter, previous crown on tooth 5 broke. My final visit I was fitted with a flipper appliance for the missing teeth that an assistant placed- it hurt horribly, the dentist ran in, removed and filed it for a second, replaced it in my mouth, and ran out. I heard him next door beginning a root canal on another patient, so he was obviously not returning to me. Whatever temporary thing he did on the root canal teeth lasted a month or so- then I had 3 teeth with wires sticking into my tongue and lower teeth. I have since seen 3 other dentists, who told me the flipper thing was useless, and that all 3 of the teeth that had root canals needed to be surgically removed (one is loose), as well as tooth #5 with the broken crown, and tooth #15. The front tooth with the tiny cavity may or may not need to be pulled- it at least will need a root canal and crown.
I have medical conditions that are made worse by stress, as well as chronic infections in my jaws the past 1 1/2 years for which my family doctor had prescribed antibiotics several times- and I can barely eat. Almost every tooth in my head either needs to be pulled or to have a root canal and crown, and there is bone loss. I am extremely affected by any discomfort, and any appliance is likely to be constantly annoying if not painful. I am told now if I go ahead and get dentures, within a few years I will be eating gruel. I am going through a divorce, and am disabled- cannot afford any expenses at all, but between yet another HMO plan and my dental insurance, will be having the work done as I can afford it beginning in October. All of these dentists have taken x-rays, and most of them seem to not even believe I've been under the regular care of a dentist due to the obvious amount of decay. I have called 12 attorneys and can't find one who handles dental malpractice yet.
Opinions? Do I have a case against dentists 1 & 2? Oh- and I returned to dentist #1 after seeing several others and getting the bad news on the state of my teeth, hoping at least he would see his liability and offer to let me make payments on the work I needed- his response was to tell me (xrays not even needed) that their estimates appeared to be correct, the work needed to be done, and I should stick with the new dentist because he couldn't match their low prices. He claimed no liability at all (of course) and when asked said I must be taking some new medication that caused all this damage in 6 months. (NOT!) He suggested I take out a loan to get the work done.