More Dental Woes

[Ross365]

A front crown fell out this morning, don't think there's enough tooth left to fix the crown to.

Would not mind but it's next to the implant/bridge, so probably another implant - my last endowment/insurance will possibly cover the cost, no pay out to SWMBO when I kick the bucket.

Better get it done quick - the dentists will be out on strike the way things are going!

 

[Eric the chicken]

What with rampant inflation, strikes and threats of strikes it's like being back in the seventies. I just wish I was as physically fit now as I was then!

 

[Ross365]

Thinking about the £300 I'm forking out for this extraction, it occurs to me that the dentist I've been paying £30/month to for the last 4-5 years must have some liability. I see him and his hygienist every 6 months for routine check ups; seems like they "missed it" big time.

Think I'll suggest he's culpable at least to some degree and ask him for £150. I will not be staying with him after this. Thoughts???

 

[James1979]

Thoughts???

I agree but I’d imagine he’s got watertight small print. They aren’t minted for no reason.

Like getting money out of a solicitor I’d think!

 

[Ross365]

There are three possible ways to go; small claims court, Dental Complaints Services (a sort of ombudsman) and no win no fee solicitors.
He's a one-man business; how many hours of his time does he want to spend resisting a claim that has some legs? I'm a retired old git; I could turn it in to a hobby. There's guidance from the "Which" org https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-can-i-complain-about-a-dentist-aXKg35G7NpcI

 

[The Artilleryman]

What with rampant inflation, strikes and threats of strikes it's like being back in the seventies. I just wish I was as physically fit now as I was then!

Long way to go before 70's rate of inflation.

 

[prepman]

Better get it done quick - the dentists will be out on strike the way things are going!

And you will have difficulty taking legal action against them too Although I think dentists know they've got a 'cash cow'.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Dentists working NHS only are very poorly paid, as the work done is banded, and 1 filling or 8 in a course of treatment pays the dentist the same amount, anything over 2 fillings, the dentist is loosing money - a business model that is bound to fail.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Not all work is covered by NHS anyway, IE gold crowns at the back, dental implants are 2 examples.

My previous dentist was very good and we would discuss treatment and certainly for rear crowns, I would pay the extra for gold as they lasted longer and felt better.

Currently dentist has done a 2 tooth bridge on a single implant, tooth/crown next to it has broken/fallen out, will probably get broken tooth smoothed off and filling over top to stop any more problems and then work out if I can live with that or have another implant - no cheap way to do that. Will hang on to the root, as this will mean I can have an implant later, extraction now means less likely to be able to do implant later.

 

[The Artilleryman]

A front crown fell out this morning, don't think there's enough tooth left to fix the crown to.

Not as bad as it could have been. Two small pins and some fancy adhesive (don't bite on it for 24 hours) and hopefully it will last a while longer. £120 please. I had to push the dentist on the longer term options - denture, bridge (non starter as crown next to it is nearly 30 years old) or implant.