Unsuccessful orthodontic teatment. Advice needed.

[JerryD5]

What is the name of your state? New York State.

I was treated unsuccessfully for an orthodontic problem by a dentist (NOT a board certified orthodontist). I now want to go to a board certified orthodontist for treatment so that I can have my problem fully fixed. I was wondering if there is any way I can have the dentist pay (since I paid him, and he was not competent enough to fix my problem) for the new treatment performed by the orthodontist.

After doing some research, I have found that my problem is very common, and I have come to the conclusion that the dentist was simply did not have the expertise/education/experience to effectively treat me. In hindsight, I wish I had initially gone to an orthodontist, but at that time I did not know the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist (I was 16, and I’m now 26). I was treated for my problem from 1996 to 2000, and the AGAIN form 2002 to 2003 by this dentist.

I am pretty sure that there are no laws that state that a dentist cannot perform orthodontic work. However, my case was obviously out of the range of expertise of my dentist, and I believe that he should have referred me to an orthodontist when I presented him with my problem.

Again, I wish to have my new orthodontic treatment (which will be performed by a board certified orthodontist) paid for by the incompetent dentist I that initially went to. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[mistadee]

Prepare yourself

Prepare yourself for some of the comments coming up by fellow posters....


I'm curious, mind sharing what problem the dentist treated you for?

 

[JerryD5]

Hehe no comments yet. Why did you tell me to prepare myslef?

Problem was deep bite, and crooked front teeth. In a nutshell... The front teeth were aligned, but the bite is now open rather than deep (top and bottom molars dont meet each other - except for my backwisdom teeth), and 90 % of my biting force is put onto my last wisom teeth, which makes chewing (like chewing a steak) very uncomfortable. Also, the dentist refused to give me a Herbst retainer (as he did the first time around), and instead gave me a cheap acrylic device that looks like an Invisalign retainer (he obviously did this to save money). He actually didn't want to give me a retainer at all, but I convinced him to give me one - and this is what he gave me.

I posted this here, because I don't think it fits into the malpractice forum since I wasn't "injured."

 

[badapple40]

This could be malpractice, and the statute of limitations starts to run (generally) after you stop treatment and could have discovered that it was malpractice.

You need someone (generally a medical professional -- in this case an orthodontist or another dentist) to testify that your original dentist violated the standard of care.