Hi Bryanna,

Thanks, you explained that very well. The second dentist found a good fit for one of the temp crowns, but the other temp is still causing a sore on my tongue when I eat. I'd like to get one of the crowns, and just keep the other crown in a temp. He is planning on telling the lab to make the crowns exactly like the temps....without the labs deciding the shape of the crowns. Is this a good method? Or is it better for the lab to have some input?

The first dentist who prepared the crowns never provided delivery of the crowns. He insisted that I have equilibration before he orders crowns. It doesn't seem right to force someone to do a procedure with high risk in order to get crowns, when this was never discussed previously. I would not want to take that risk. I paid them half of the price of the two crowns. I'd like to ask for a refund since he never provided crowns. Do you think it's appropriate to ask for a refund since he never followed through with crowns?

Thanks! Silky

Hi Bryanna

Thanks, you explained that very well. The second dentist found a good fit for one of the temp crowns, but the other temp is still causing a sore on my tongue when I eat. I'd like to get one of the crowns, and just keep the other crown in a temp. The dentist decided it would be good to get the one crown. Then the second tooth will still have a temp. He might be able to get a better fit with a single temp, instead of the temp around the two teeth?

Another thing I was wondering. If a comfortable fit can't be found for the second temp, could a much smaller crown be made that might not be functional but would at least cover the tooth. It would at least stop the pain from irritating the tongue.

The first dentist who prepared the crowns never provided delivery of the crowns. He insisted that I have equilibration before he orders crowns. It doesn't seem right to force someone to do a procedure with high risk in order to get crowns, when this was never discussed previously. I would not want to take that risk. I paid them half of the price of the two crowns. I'd like to ask for a refund since he never provided crowns. Do you think it's appropriate to ask for a refund since he never followed through with crowns?

Thanks! Silky[/QUOTE]

Hi Silky,

I'm still confused as to why this temp crown is causing an irritation on your tongue? Can't he just smooth out that rough portion of the crown? Is the temp too large?

Yes, a dentist can tell the lab to duplicate the shape of the temps. However, I don't see how that would solve the problem if the temp does not fit properly on the one tooth. Dental technicians are like dental artists... for chewing and esthetic reasons, they make the crowns according to the natural anatomy of a tooth. Temp crowns do not have those qualities. Will the crown be functional irrelevant of how it is shaped... depends on the anatomy of the other teeth and the bite.

If your first dentist did not insert permanent crowns on those teeth because you refused the occlusal adjustment, then yes, you are entitled to a refund of any money that you paid him for them. He would not have sent your impressions to the lab to have crowns made until your bite adjustment was done...and since it wasn't done, he most likely has not incurred any lab expenses.

Bryanna

Silky,

Are the two temps connected to each other??

Making a smaller crown for that problem tooth may not necessarily be a good option. It could cause additional problems with your bite because the top tooth may then have nothing to bite against.

Bryanna


[/QUOTE]

Hi Bryanna,

Yes, right now the two temps are connected as one. The dentist will go ahead and put a permanent crown on #14 which is not a problem. That will leave #15 with a temp crown.

One thing that was mentioned was to round off the opposing tooth to #15 because the tooth is very sharp. Is working on the opposing tooth something to stay away from? He said it could make things worse, but he could add back what he rounded off.

Thanks. Silky


[/QUOTE]

Hi Bryanna,

The temp causes irritation and a round like sore on the tongue when eating. The temp is not too large. Right now the temp is kind of sharp along the tongue edge, but I don't think he can smooth it any more.

I've left messages for the dentist for a refund because he did not deliver permanent crowns, and he's ignoring it. The occlusal adjustments would have cost maybe $3000 or more because his staff said he would probably want 3 or 4 of them. The dentist never talked to me about occlusal adjustments. He just had the staff give me that info. I've read where occlusal adjustments aren't done much any more because they found they cause more problems than they solved. I did the second crown because he insisted on doing that before he would get a permanent crown for the first tooth. I didn't want to do that because that tooth was fine, but then went ahead with that. I saw it as the only way to get permanent crowns. As soon as he prepared the second tooth for the crown, he said he was putting the permanent crowns on hold. That's when he threw up the roadblock of "occlusal adjustments are required now before I'll order permanent crowns". I'm just exasperated with that kind of treatment.

Thanks. Silky

I'm still confused as to why this temp crown is causing an irritation on your tongue? Can't he just smooth out that rough portion of the crown? Is the temp too large?

Yes, a dentist can tell the lab to duplicate the shape of the temps. However, I don't see how that would solve the problem if the temp does not fit properly on the one tooth. Dental technicians are like dental artists... for chewing and esthetic reasons, they make the crowns according to the natural anatomy of a tooth. Temp crowns do not have those qualities. Will the crown be functional irrelevant of how it is shaped... depends on the anatomy of the other teeth and the bite.

If your first dentist did not insert permanent crowns on those teeth because you refused the occlusal adjustment, then yes, you are entitled to a refund of any money that you paid him for them. He would not have sent your impressions to the lab to have crowns made until your bite adjustment was done...and since it wasn't done, he most likely has not incurred any lab expenses.

Bryanna[/QUOTE]

Silky....

Firstly, how are you?

Secondly, if the dentist has not inserted the permanent crowns... you are not responsible to pay for them. Sometimes in situations like yours, a letter from an attorney or a complaint to the state dental board will get you a refund.

Please check with us when you can :)

Bryanna



[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Bryanna;749512]Silky....

Firstly, how are you?

Secondly, if the dentist has not inserted the permanent crowns... you are not responsible to pay for them. Sometimes in situations like yours, a letter from an attorney or a complaint to the state dental board will get you a refund.

Please check with us when you can :)

Bryanna


Hi Bryanna,

There is some progress. I had a permanent crown put on #14 with temp cement and it seems it will be fine. Do crowns usually remove with temp cement okay? The temp on #15 is still a problem with irritation to the tongue, so not sure what to try next.

I did start a complaint with the local dental society because the dentist never provided permanent crowns. They may be able to help get money refunded, but maybe not. After that is completed, one can still file a complaint with the state dental board. The dentist is going to try to say that I discontinued treatment, but that is not the case. He never answered his emergency phone number when the temp was causing extreme pain. He wouldn't even order a crown from the lab because he insisted
I complete treatment of 4 equilibration treatments and a $1000 bite guard first.

Thanks for your comments! Silky

Hi Silky,

Temporary cement is just that.. temporary. Unless the crown fits very tightly on the tooth, then yes, the crown will remove fairly easily if it is temporarily cemented.

With regard to your $$$ situation... If the dentist did not have the crowns made by the lab, but you or your insurance already paid for them...he cannot legally keep that money. If the dentist had the crowns made by the lab but never inserted them in your mouth... he can charge you the lab costs to have the crowns made. However, when he gets notice that you filed a complaint, he will most likely want to resolve this matter quickly.

Every dental office has reimbursed a patient from time to time for various reasons so it's not uncommon.

Keep us posted!

Bryanna




Hi Bryanna,

There is some progress. I had a permanent crown put on #14 with temp cement and it seems it will be fine. Do crowns usually remove with temp cement okay? The temp on #15 is still a problem with irritation to the tongue, so not sure what to try next.

I did start a complaint with the local dental society because the dentist never provided permanent crowns. They may be able to help get money refunded, but maybe not. After that is completed, one can still file a complaint with the state dental board. The dentist is going to try to say that I discontinued treatment, but that is not the case. He never answered his emergency phone number when the temp was causing extreme pain. He wouldn't even order a crown from the lab because he insisted
I complete treatment of 4 equilibration treatments and a $1000 bite guard first.

Thanks for your comments! Silky[/QUOTE]

Hi Bryanna,

I still have a problem with a crown on #15 causing irritation on the tongue. The dentist isn't sure if it is the crown or the wisdom tooth #17. The wisdom tooth has a flattened out cusp of mercury on the part of the tooth closest to #18. The tongue gets sore after eating. Could the #17 tooth even be affecting the tongue when chewing. The opposing wisdom tooth #16 was extracted, so there is no tooth to chew against. I hate to get #17 extracted if it is not the problem. The roots are close to the nerve on that tooth.

The crown is in temp cement. I was wondering if it was possible to make a very small temp crown (maybe something the shape of a bottle cap....the prepared tooth does not have much height to it) to put in there to relieve the irriation for a while and try to determine which tooth is the problem. Appreciate any helpful insight you might have. Thanks. Silky