If an orthodontist breaks something in your mouth.....

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#1 Post by **tryinthis2** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:44 pm

When my spacers were inserted today the dental asst broke off my crown. The orthodontist came and told me to go to my dentist (at my cost) to have it fixed. He then realized he had cement in the back and could fix it so he did.

I'm wondering if this type of thing is normal?

It baffled me that I would have to pay for them breaking my crown.....

He said that it was going to break off anyhow if it came loose that easy and I should be glad it happened where it could be fixed. um....ok.

This is my first appointment for preparing to have braces ..... is this experience normal?

#2 Post by **michelle005** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:18 pm

I don't have an answer to your question, but I just wanted to say that when the ortho was putting in my spacers, I seriously thought he was going to rip out my crown and the tooth attached, too! That's horrible that yours actually came off...I'm sorry to hear that. I wish there was a better way to get those suckers in.

#3 Post by **insinu8** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:52 pm

I didn't have any trouble getting spacers between a crown and other molar, but your story sounds like your ortho doesn't want to accept any liability for any damage they might do. That would scare me. I'd recommend finding another ortho.

Good luck!

#4 Post by **badbite** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:19 am

If your crown broke off, there was probably something wrong with the corown. I would go to the dentist even of the Ortho cemented it back in. There could be decay, or maybe the crown dosn'e fit prperly.

#5 Post by **tryinthis2** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:48 am

funny thing is he took more time putting it on than the original dentist ...fits better now. lol

I'm finding it odd that it broke during their procedure to begin with. Wondering if the "stuff" they're going to put in the place of the spacers will possibly cause it to break again if not cemented in properly by them??

#6 Post by **rolo** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:09 am

I have a crown at the front and asked what happened if it came out when they took impressions. My ortho told me it had only happened to him once with a bridge, and they have a dentist in the surgery who would stick it back, without charge. So in his opinion, a possibility but not common.

#7 Post by **Luella** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:41 pm

At my office, we do ocassionally knock a crown off while trying to extract a tooth. We always re-cement it for the patient at no charge. I would call the dentist and ask them what they would like for you to do. However, we do have on our consent form (that EVERYONE signs BEFORE we do ANY treatment) that a crown or large filling on an adjacent tooth could be damaged or knocked out and that we accept no liability for that. We don't write the consent form though, the liability insurance company does! LOL!

#8 Post by **tryinthis2** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:34 pm

So basically in order for you to work on someone's mouth you have them release your doctor from any liability by an "oopsie"???

Does that sound like it should not be that way?

Sounds like the mechanic saying he has to fix something in your car but asks you to release him from liability if he breaks something else while he's under the hood. lol

#9 Post by **Luella** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:49 pm

Like I said, every now and then it happens. And the doctors I work for will fix it at no charge. Not every doctor is as considerate to his patients. Every doctor should be! And for the record, I would let all 3 of my doctors operate on me- one of them has, the second is going to place my TAD implants, and the third has worked on my son. LOL!

#10 Post by **tryinthis2** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:55 pm

Sounds like you've got good faith in your doctors. That is a real blessing! I think the way that my situation was handled was SO respectable. They made it like no big deal and although I was in a panic, my mouth was open wide and they just continued on so I had no choice but to chill out....hahaha GREAT thinking on their part by keeping my mouth open. lol

I felt very fortunate that he cemented it back on there and didnt mind at all to come back later to have them finish. I've always been a bit of a dentist phobic (thus the crown) so I think I walk in with panic on my face.

I think that if all dentist's handled the problems that occur from time to time then patient's would have your kind of faith.

My last dental visit was not pleasant. The dentist put in a filling and when the meds wore off and I was in big pain she said "oh your insurance didnt cover a crown so I put in a filling .....but it needs a crown so the pain will be normal until you get that done."

#11 Post by **Luella** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:28 pm

That's terrible! I cannot tell you how many patients or friends I meet that tell me they've had a bad experience regarding some kind of dental work being done with no anesthesia or anesthesia that wore off during the procedure. Most of the time, the patient/person let the Dr know they were hurting and the doctor continued anyway! My doctors would never do that, and I would have a MAJOR issue if they did! I don't want to assist in hurting someone and concreting a life-long dental phobia. Not cool! I'm glad you're seeing someone worth seeing now!

#12 Post by **tryinthis2** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:33 pm

naw...my anesthesia worked from 9am until 4pm when I had to pick up the kids.....I ended up driving alllllllllllllllll the way back there .... like 45 minutes to have them fix my tooth. She had put in a filling and sealed two of my teeth together! yikes!

wow you should post your office on here as a recommended office because there are too many dentists that dont care as much as yours do....and you are the best one of all to know since you work with them! What a blessing!

I think my situation was just a fluke. I have actually gotten about 4 different orthodontist consultations in my life and never committed to do this until now. I think I made a good decision now that I think about it.... they made an oopsie and put in all efforts to fix it.....who could ask for much more? That's exactly what I'd like to see if I was ever in a situation that was similar again so I think I'll be in good hands.