Keep Needing Tooth Extractions

I’m getting frustrated with my dentist. I go a minimum of twice a year. Most years I go three times. I am diligent with my oral health at home. Yet, despite all this I keep losing teeth. I had a tooth that was under “watch status” as he put it. Yet, before my next appointment I ended up with a dental emergency and he said the tooth deteriorated too quickly and I now needed a tooth extraction and dental implant. Then, the next appointment he said everything was fine. Two months later I had a filling fall in and when I went to see him he said that tooth needed was also too far gone and needed to be extracted and replaced. I’m spending a fortune on my oral health and still not getting to save my teeth. I’m thinking I should have some financial compensation here.

Mary

Dear Mary,

I can understand your frustration. Please bear in mind that I haven’t examined you and can only go on your description. That being said, based on what I’m hearing, your dentist is not serving you well. While it is possible for a tooth to need a root canal treatment when a patient is as faithful as you are, it is highly unlikely. The fact that it skipped needing a root canal treatment and went straight to needing an extraction is even more unlikely.

Combine that with the fact that you had a filling just fall in on itself when you had a recent checkup where you were told that everything was fine adds to my dubious feelings about your dentist.

The problem with getting financial compensation, however, is it would be hard to prove. You would need imaging and documentation of the state of your teeth along with your dentist saying things were fine when they weren’t. That would be challenging.

I would start by switching to another dentist. Then, tell your dentist that you would like some of your money back or you will report his negligence to the dental board and warn other potential patients on review sites. Hopefully, he’ll do the right thing, but if he doesn’t, I don’t think you’ll get anywhere with a lawsuit because there won’t be enough proof.

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