Found out I've been taken advantage of by a dentist

[SingleJawMelb]

I would be making the dentist take out my four teeth, for free.

Yeah that's not going to cut it for me lol.

Good luck. In the short term your options are limited and you could be getting $ back because I honestly don't think you will get much back from the dentist. What has the dentist said?

[braceface234]

I would be making the dentist take out my four teeth, for free.

Yeah that's not going to cut it for me lol.

Good luck. In the short term your options are limited and you could be getting $ back because I honestly don't think you will get much back from the dentist. What has the dentist said?

why do you not think so? And I haven't met with the dentist yet.

[SingleJawMelb]

Yeah that's not going to cut it for me lol.

Good luck. In the short term your options are limited and you could be getting $ back because I honestly don't think you will get much back from the dentist. What has the dentist said?

why do you not think so? And I haven't met with the dentist yet.

Because of everything I've said before about him being able to do braces etc.

[braceface234]

Good luck. In the short term your options are limited and you could be getting $ back because I honestly don't think you will get much back from the dentist. What has the dentist said?

why do you not think so? And I haven't met with the dentist yet.

Because of everything I've said before about him being able to do braces etc.

Right but there has to be repercussions for him doing a sesame job and wanting to get my braces off when it was nowhere near ready and needs another 24 months for it to get to where it needs to be. I refuse o believe that someone who knows they are not an orthodontist and also knows that orthodontist exists would take my case know he didn't do it right and get away with it especially if I find out what's been done and confront it. The skills and knowledge needed for my specific case was not there and he knew it, a complaint to the dental board should be enough of a threat to get him to give me some of my money back. hopefully he does what's right.

[SingleJawMelb]

why do you not think so? And I haven't met with the dentist yet.

Because of everything I've said before about him being able to do braces etc.

Right but there has to be repercussions for him doing a sesame job and wanting to get my braces off when it was nowhere near ready and needs another 24 months for it to get to where it needs to be. I refuse o believe that someone who knows they are not an orthodontist and also knows that orthodontist exists would take my case know he didn't do it right and get away with it especially if I find out what's been done and confront it. The skills and knowledge needed for my specific case was not there and he knew it, a complaint to the dental board should be enough of a threat to get him to give me some of my money back. hopefully he does what's right.

Yep I agree he wasted your time due to lack of knowledge. I just fear because you would have to sue him, it's a lot harder in America compared to Aus where we have free legal options. But we don't know what action the dentist will take.

What's happening? What's he said? What are you going to do?

[djspeece]

As I mentioned earlier, some professionals unfortunately don't know what they don't know and that would seem to be the case here. I would think however that a general dentist would recognize when he is out of his league, and therefore you might have a case, depending on how aggressive you want to be (i.e., seeking legal action). Perhaps a partially veiled threat of contacting the Dental Board would suffice, as others have mentioned -- but I'd recommend keeping it civil, and allowing him a graceful way out as long as it meets your needs in terms of a refund. But as you have described you have yet to talk with him, and I wish you luck in any event.

[Flosser]

I am so sorry to hear of yet another patient being taken advantage of! If you'd like to connect to other "patients of harm" via my FB page, feel free to visit here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFlos ... lPatients/
We'd love to have you share your story for others to see in the hopes of preventing more tragedies such as ours down the road! You can also visit my advocacy web site here: http://singingdabluez.wixsite.com/deann ... ed-patient
There's a wealth of info that's provided to help educate and empower patients to be their own advocates! The only way to stop these deceitful practices are to bring it to the public's attention!

Thanks for sharing your story!
Flosser..

[secondtimewithbraces]

OH MY GODDD

I AM IN THE EXACT SAME SITTUATION AS YOU

i also have been fooled by my "dentist",i thought my dentist was an othrodontist because it was my second time getting braces and one of my molars were off and i wanted to get my bite corrected and aligned which my dentist said he would do.

5 months down the line he tells me they do not mess around with the back teeth and my treatment is 6 month smiles they only focus on front teeth.

ALL he has done is IPR and tried to fix some crowding which has made my smile narrow and ugly

where as my orthodontist never done ipr on me when i first had braces

i paid £3200 to get 6 month smiles thinking i am fixing all my teeth.

where as orthodontists in london charge £3000 for FULL TREATMENT

[BattaliaF26]

Did you meet with dentist? What happened?

[braceface234]

Did you meet with dentist? What happened?

Hi! Yes, I spoke with the dentist and I will be getting back about 75% of what I paid him. I'm thankful because I thought I wouldn't get anything back, but it seemed like he genuinely understood why his treatment in my case was not successful. The orthodontists I visited (I spoke to about 5 lol) told me I should get every penny back because he did an extremely poor job. I think if I asked for more of what I paid back he wouldn't fight me on it, but I'm not as aggressive as I thought I could be. I asked him what he thought was a fair amount and I agreed. I'm meeting with him soon to complete paper work and I'm thinking about asking for more of my $ back. I'm bad at asking for things even when I'm rightfully owed what I am asking for. but the good thing is that I don't have to sue and it didn't take too much for him to say that he'll give me some of my money back.

[braceface234]

As I mentioned earlier, some professionals unfortunately don't know what they don't know and that would seem to be the case here. I would think however that a general dentist would recognize when he is out of his league, and therefore you might have a case, depending on how aggressive you want to be (i.e., seeking legal action). Perhaps a partially veiled threat of contacting the Dental Board would suffice, as others have mentioned -- but I'd recommend keeping it civil, and allowing him a graceful way out as long as it meets your needs in terms of a refund. But as you have described you have yet to talk with him, and I wish you luck in any event.

Thanks so much for your input. Thankfully, I won't need to pursue any legal action since he agreed to give me some of my money back. Initially, I didn't think I'd get any back which is why I settled for getting about 75% of my money back. The thought of me paying him anything to begin with is what's making me question the amount now and if I should ask for more. Some of the orthodontists I visited said that I should get every penny back, and of course I agree but then again I have some doubt based on what ppl have said regarding the refund as far as me being thankful that I even got anything. but I don't know, I'm not completely satisfied but I'm still thankful if that makes sense lol.

[braceface234]

Because of everything I've said before about him being able to do braces etc.

Right but there has to be repercussions for him doing a sesame job and wanting to get my braces off when it was nowhere near ready and needs another 24 months for it to get to where it needs to be. I refuse o believe that someone who knows they are not an orthodontist and also knows that orthodontist exists would take my case know he didn't do it right and get away with it especially if I find out what's been done and confront it. The skills and knowledge needed for my specific case was not there and he knew it, a complaint to the dental board should be enough of a threat to get him to give me some of my money back. hopefully he does what's right.

Yep I agree he wasted your time due to lack of knowledge. I just fear because you would have to sue him, it's a lot harder in America compared to Aus where we have free legal options. But we don't know what action the dentist will take.

What's happening? What's he said? What are you going to do?

Hi there i'd like to say thank you for sharing the dear man interpersonal strategy with me. it was extremely helpful and helped me feel less anxious when I met with the dentist. thank you, thank you, thank you. and good news, my dentist said he would give me some of my money back. I'll be getting about 3/4 of what I paid him. I'm still thinking about if I should ask for a bit more or not but I'm still grateful that I don't have to pursue any legal action. The meeting went well and he understood the importance of my case and why I was requesting to seek an orthodontist to finish my treatment. I still don't know if he's sorry that I'm in this current situation or if he's sorry that I found out how unprofessional and poorly executed his treatment was. but the main thing is that I'm getting some of my money back and that I may get more if I find the courage to ask for more lol. I deserve to get the money back, I know this, the orthodontists I met with know this, but for some reason I cant muster up the strength to demand for more. the thought of paying him anything for the treatment upsets me, yet I still don't know how to ask for what I need back. what do you think? should I just shut up, take the money, and leave? or should I ask for the deserved amount of money back? deserved amount as in a few more hundred dollars but not quite the full amount.

[Flosser]

Take the money & RUN!! Contrary to popular belief, most attorneys will not take a dental case!! Even the worse case scenario's seldom see justice so if this guy wants to refund you, take it, it's in your favor where most cases loose every dime!
Read about the process here:
http://singingdabluez.wixsite.com/deann ... ed-patient It's the 4th or 5th article from the top.

Good Luck!!

[braceface234]

Take the money and run. TBH I didn't think it would be that easy to get the money back...

Yep it's annoying you wasted time and money and 2/4 is better than 1/4 etc. Better he's paid money then you having to go through the legal route.

Ultimately it's your choice. Maybe take the money and see how you feel in a few months? With time thoughts change.

I spoke with the dental board to get more info on what I should do. I was told that if I sent a complaint they'd basically figure out the dentists standard of care while he treated me. if his care fell below the standard of care that he's supposed to uphold then they would rule in my favor. their final decision also includes handling monetary issues that may be due to the patient, if I include the amount I need refunded in my complaint. I'm pretty sure if I filed a complaint id get my money back, I'm almost wishing I did that instead.

[Khaleesi]

I agree with take the money and run - is 25% of the cost really worth the hassle, when 75% would allow you to get on with your life and find someone competent?