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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / June 2006Dental Ethics
Just yesterday, heart pounding, I approached my dentist with two separate diagnosis that called for the replacement of cerec procedures they performed that had gone bad. That is a second and third opinion. Has anyone gone to the table with a Dentist like this with regard to poor and inneffective treatment? Is there a watchdog group one could refer me to? As of yesterday, they were unwilling to refund the expensive fee and just wanted me to try another Dentist in the same group. This Dentist by the way, denied the presence of decay just like the first one, in direct contrast to the second and third opinion Dentists.My head is spinning as I am usually quite non-confrontational. > Just yesterday, heart pounding, I approached my dentist with two > separate diagnosis that called for the replacement of cerec procedures [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the first one, in direct contrast to the second and third opinion > Dentists.My head is spinning as I am usually quite non-confrontational. This is difficult--a he said/she said situation. Dentists seldom will want to confront another dentist regarding apparently poor work. This sounds a bit like "omerta" or conspiratorial silence, but it isn't quite. It is true that a dentist can seldom if ever know the circumstances under which dental treatment was rendered. Furthermore, it isn't always clear what has happened between the time treatment ended and the time the patient presents in the office. However, if a patient comes in and there is decay, fracture, open margins, poor contacts, etc. etc.--the whole gamut of what can go wrong with restorations like this, the dentist must say so. There are legal and ethical issues here, and they don't usually overlap precisely. Most dental offices want to make their patients happy, and occasionally work is re-done--if the need is there. Even I've done it occasionally! ;-) The big issue is where trust has been lost, and you don't WANT them to try again--at no fee or otherwise. You can of course try to have the fee returned, but if they won't and you have no intention of going back, you have the usual potential remedies. Generally cases of this size are not worthwhile for malpractice attorneys to take. If the dentist in question is a member of the local dental society you may try to take the case before peer review. You can call the local dental society and they should be able to help you further. In order to use the peer review process, you will probably have to sign a paper forfeiting your right to sue in court. This isn't as big a deal as it sounds, since it sounds like we're talking about maybe a couple of thousand dollars anyhow and few dentists will bring so small a case to court. And lest you think that since peer review is run by the dental society that it will be a whitewash, in my local society last time I heard about 60% of the cases brought found at least partly for the patient. Good luck, Steve  SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 > > Just yesterday, heart pounding, I approached my dentist with two > > separate diagnosis that called for the replacement of cerec procedures [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > Brooklyn, NY > 718-258-5001 > Just yesterday, heart pounding, I approached my dentist with two > separate diagnosis that called for the replacement of cerec procedures [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the first one, in direct contrast to the second and third opinion > Dentists.My head is spinning as I am usually quite non-confrontational. ___________________ I agree that you should ask your local dental society for a Peer Review of your case. At no cost to you, they will examine the quality of the dental treatment, which should clear up the current "he-said, she-said" situation. This assumes that the dentist in question is a dental society member, and thus is subject to dental association rules. This is another good reason to make sure that any dentist you trust with your dental care is at least a member of the dental society. Let us know the results. Best regards, - dentaldoc > I agree that you should ask your local dental society for a Peer Review > of your case. At no cost to you, they will examine the quality of the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Best regards, - dentaldoc Thanks for your interest. At this time, the primary (questionable Dentist) group has told me I shall be given a refund. I am told after some involvment with thier corporate office, this matter will be resolved. I have already made arrangements with a new Dentist to fix my problems, but am still a little worried because they could just credit my c.c., however I think it's a done deal and am very relieved. (and will be more so whan I get the refund.) After all this, the last thing I want, is to have to go through any more collection activities. Bob > I agree that you should ask your local dental society for a Peer Review > of your case. At no cost to you, they will examine the quality of the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Best regards, - dentaldoc Thanks for your interest. At this time, the primary (questionable Dentist) group has told me I shall be given a refund. I am told after some involvment with thier corporate office, this matter will be resolved. I have already made arrangements with a new Dentist to fix my problems, but am still a little worried because they could just credit my c.c., however I think it's a done deal and am very relieved. (and will be more so whan I get the refund.) After all this, the last thing I want, is to have to go through any more collection activities. Bob > > I agree that you should ask your local dental society for a Peer Review > > of your case. At no cost to you, they will examine the quality of the [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Bob _______________________________________ I'm glad to hear that you will be receiving the refund you sought. That will enable you to go elsewhere and obtain the necessary treatment. Best regards, - dentaldoc Help. My dental problems continue. My soon to be ex-Dentist group is dragging thier feet with the refund, and I understand it will not be consistent with the total amount I paid. I must proceed with treatment at my new Dentist but my old Dentist "DR. SALUD AT THE SAN CLEMENTE DENTAL GROUP IN CALIFORNIA insists on making this "interesting". So it appears I will not be refunded before my new treatment/repairs are performed. Inconsistent with what they say when asked on the phone, Dr. Salud is not a CDA member. So I must pursue this through the California States' tedious Department of Consumer Affairs channels. In all my life, I have never been treated so unprofessionally by any organization, let alone a physician. Anybody got a legal referral in South Orange County, Ca.? > Help. My dental problems continue. My soon to be ex-Dentist group is > dragging thier feet with the refund, and I understand it will not be [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > organization, let alone a physician. Anybody got a legal referral in > South Orange County, Ca.? Sorry, I haven't. Have you been seen by the new dentist yet? What does he/she have to say? Steve SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 Hi Doctor: I have been to two additional Dentists. The first one, told me of problems and decay and explained they would need to be re-done. As my new Dentist, I'm sure he has to avoid a confict of interest. So I visited another Dentist, closer to my work on referral from a friend. After a couple of bitewing x-rays, this gentleman minced no words. He spoke of open margins, contact problems, decay and most of all, advised me my original dental group were not telling me the facts. He also told me he could not help as a Dentist due to the conflict if interest but explained that he would say the same things he told me to anyone. Now I have to see a new Dentist tommorow after having gone through all this at considerable cost less than a year ago. Am I making a mistake by seing a new Dentist with the matter unresolved as it is? Please advise. Bob > Hi Doctor: I have been to two additional Dentists. The first one, > told me of problems and decay and explained they would need to be [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > advise. > Bob Obviously, I cannot know the answer to that. But you've had two independent judgements that there are problems, and the second explained in considerable detail what the problems are. I don't know about this third dentist; but it seems likely that you should address problems which are there. Recovering the fee is another issue; if the original office is not responsive, see if small claims is an option (it may not be--regs differ from state to state). Good luck, Steve |
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