[jmontague]

I had visited a dentist in dec 2008 they had given me a dental cleaning and suggested to have some teeth fixed such as fillings. I then had set up appointments to do this. On one particular tooth that they had told me I needed a filling, I had them do it, a week latter the tooth hurt, keep in mind I never complained about any type of tooth pain on this tooth what's so ever until after the filling. Than they had told me now I needed to have a root canal done, so again I set up the appointment and when time came it was so severely painfull that they could not finish the procedure. This went on for about 5 or 6 visits being so numb I didn't know if I was taking a breath in or out of my mouth but the one tooth in agony. I was balling like a baby in the chair ( I am 32yrs old ). I decided that after the last appointment I would not go back since, they could not get it finished plus the pain they were infliciting on me was excruciating to the point I passed out . 2 months had gone by and what do you know the same tooth started to act up again, I wanted to go to another dentist but they had already billed my insurance so I was told I had to go back to the same dentist or pay out of pocket. I went back to the dentist on Tuesday 6-16-09. They had finished the job this time with a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain dispise the shots I was given to numb my tooth. They sent me home with no medication. I was told ibuprphen would be fine. It is now Thursday and I am in excruciating pain, 10 times the pain I had before I went in to finish the root canal. I called and advised the recpectionst about this,she had told me to come in so they can look at it so I had gone back to them to further investigate by polking and proding it. Then I asked for some relief of any kind and I was refused and told to find another specialist. That the tooth they had finished was done and they would not give me any medication. Nor was there any more they could do for the tooth but to go to a specialist, for they are not specialist they are only general dentists. I asked them to give that to me in writing and they refused to. I than called them from my job about an hour latter from leaving the office and asked again the dr. Personaly to give me in writing that they refuse to give treatment to me so I can go to another dentist that would rectify the problem and be able to have the inusrance billed again for the same tooth since they did not finish. ( assuming that since I am in sooo much pain and they would not treat the pain or fix the problem of the pain) since I had called them from my job I had recorded the call luckliy. The dr. Advised to me that he was not refusing treatment that my treatment was going to another specialist. So I said to the dr. That they infilicted pain on a tooth I never had a complaint about, charged my insurance for all the vists and send me in pain to go elsewhere as my treatment he said yes. Is this legal? Do I have a malpractice suit? Insurance fraud? What should I do next. Beside making a complaint to the dental board? Someone please help. I am afraid that the pain they have caused may be permenint.

[Amir1981]

Just because you don't have any pain does not mean you don't need a filling/root canal. If a tooth is rotten almost to the nerve then drilling out the decay will often result in exposure of the nerve, meaning a root canal is needed. Go see what the specialist says, ask him why things turned out the way they did and repost it... easy on the lawsuits

[justcurious55]

If that dentist can't do anything else to help you it seems like seeing the specialist is the best idea. If after seeing the specialist it turns out that the dentist did not give you the proper treatment in the beginning, then look into lawsuits.

[jmontague]

So I should pay more money and spend more time off work ( at my expense, I'm not rich) because a dentist took about 8 visits for the same tooth and left it still in pain( worse than it was before) and go to a specialist? My post was for help on disputing or if I could sue based on this issue, not to side with the dr.? Obviously I will have to go to another dr. that is a given.PLEASE ONLY RESPOND IF IT WILL HELP ME OUT! There are several questions in my paragraph that need answers that have nothing to do with seeing another dr..

[excon]

Hello j:

I don't know if you can sue or not. A visit or two to a malpractice attorney will answer your question. They won't charge you for talking to you either.

The other reason to talk to them, is that not only can they answer your question, they can DO something about it.

excon

[flossie]

Keep receipts and a journal of what was done and said at each appointment. Perhaps you can have the dentist who has referred you to the specialist pick up the cost of the specialists treatment.