I went to a dentist DDS employed by a major Dental Corporation. I was in
need of dental work and also wanted amalgam fillings changed to
composite(white), for cosmetic reasons. I paid by credit card, over $5000 in
advance, for all work. On my first visit - consultation, I was told we will
do all the work, and when we are done, we will go back and do any "fine
tuning". Work was performed between Nov. 2000 and Jan. 2001. I had a simple

extending almost to the top of the inner lip/gum. No "power" tools were
used. I had to wear a temp. bridge for 2 months, while waiting on healing.
The dentists report stated "0 complications". When I asked about this, I was
told that the bridge would fill in the gap. It didn't. The adjacent roots
are now exposed, I have a reoccurring abscess, and #3 will require a root
canal. I had to return on several occasions to have corrections made to
several procedures that were performed, including having 4 of my front teeth
separated that the dentist accidentally bonded together. On my last visit to
the dentist, to have a crown and bridge permanently seated, I requested
another appointment for "fine tuning", as stated at my consultation. I was
informed that I would have to schedule with another office, as this was the
dentist's last day. I had so many complaints, I was referred to the Senior
Dentist DDS in my region. He was so disgusted, he said that he didn't think
that even he could fix the "mess" that was made of my mouth. He requested
that all my money be refunded. The Corp. told me that I would have to deal
with the dentist and his insurance. After much debate, the Corp. agreed to
do the work. After much more effort to get the work started, the Corp again
said that I would have to deal with the dentist and his insurance. In the
meantime, I went for a 3rd Dentist opinion (who refused to touch any
previous work, as he would then become liable), and a periodontal opinion.
Both costs of visits were reimbursed by the dentist. I will now require 2
crowns where fillings were replaced, 2 possible root canals, a ridge
augmentation or bone graft, and repair to all work performed. The dentist
has offered to redo all work at his expense plus pay for required surgery.
He also offered me a tank of gas, as I would have to come to his location. I
already told him that I couldn't let him back in my mouth, as it was my
entire mouth, not just 1 or 2 teeth. The Corp. refused to refund my money,
then sent me an offer to refund me 1/2 of the money paid to them, after
signing a liability release"only as a courtesy." They said it didn't matter
who I paid my money to, they weren't responsible. $4140 of this is
warranty(5yr.)  work. I have requested insurance of any and all parties that
might be responsible for my losses, and was refused this info. I am
disputing this charge with my credit card co. I have done everything
possible, short of litigation and reporting to the Board of Dentistry, to
resolve this situation. This has been an ongoing situation since Jan. 2001.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

  Dental concerns regarding work performed by dentist (DDS) during period of
10/19/00 through 1/11/01.

Tooth / CONCERN

3 4 5 Captek Bridge doesn't fit properly. No cusps and feels shriveled on
biting surfaces. Biting surfaces don't
   meet correctly. Gap at gumline (4). Painful or extremely sensitive at
times when eating, and now
   sometimes when not eating. Rough spots due to grinding (adjusting) by Dr.
This after requesting
   (to assistant) that no grinding be done to this bridge. (Due to the way
that the other bridge (12) (13) (14)
   now feels.) Bridge is larger than other teeth.

3   Becoming painful under gumline, especially when gum/root is touched.
(Massive abscess 4/11/01)

4   Excessive gum tissue and bone were removed, leaving a massive space and
exposing (5) below gumline.
   When questioned about this on 1/11, Dr. said, "Oh, you'll probably have
to have surgery." This is a
   major concern that needs rectifying.

5   Part of gum tissue missing, due to (4) root removal. Tooth is now
extremely sensitive. Was too much tooth
   removed for bridge? After tooth was prepared and temporary bridge was in
place for several weeks, Dr.
   said that he had to do a crown build up (on 12/28) because he found decay
the filling. There was no filling in
   this tooth and the tooth wasn't on the Treatment Plan except for bridge
work. There was no problem with
   this tooth until after Dr. worked on it.

7   Clear substance applied to tooth surface and is extremely gritty and
chipping. Leaving tooth feeling {*filter*}
   at all times. Back of tooth at filling is now extremely discolored.

8   Clear substance applied to tooth surface and is extremely gritty and
chipping. Leaving tooth feeling {*filter*}
   at all times. Tooth  is now extremely discolored and spotted. Both sides
are mis-shaped due to
   separation of teeth that Dr. accidentally bonded together (7) (8) (9) &
(10). Bottom left corner is not filled
   in enough, causing gap between (7) & (8).

9   Clear substance applied to tooth surface and is extremely gritty and
chipping. Leaving tooth feeling {*filter*}
   at all times. Tooth  is now extremely discolored and spotted. Right side
is gapped at gumline due to
   separation of teeth that Dr. accidentally bonded together (7) (8) (9) &
(10). Bottom right corner is still
   rough and uneven from repair to work that chipped day after being done.

10   Clear substance applied to tooth surface and is extremely gritty and
chipping. Leaving tooth feeling {*filter*}
   at all times. Back of tooth at filling is now extremely discolored. Tooth
is discolored at gumline between
   (9) & (10). Dr. said that this could be removed by hygienist. She
couldn't remove this. Is it repairable?

11   Tooth is discolored at gumline. Dr. said that this could be removed by
hygienist. She couldn't remove this.
    Is it repairable?

12 13 14 Captek Bridge has no cusps and feels shriveled on biting surfaces.
Biting surfaces don't meet correctly
   Painful or extremely sensitive at times when eating. (12) is mis-shaped
at front. All surfaces are very
   rough due to grinding (adjusting) by Dr. Bridge is much larger that other
teeth.

15   No cusps. Discolored on back at gumline. Is this decay?

19   No cusps. Can see metal on surface of crown where it was ground down
too far (over-adjusted). Needs
   replaced. Crown is much larger than other teeth.

20   Dark spots that look like decay. Filling is discolored, (recessed) not
smooth and even with biting surface.
   No cusps.

21   Filling is rough and discolored on front surface.

29   Tooth is mis-shaped, almost sharp. No cusps. Floss snagging between
(29) & (30).

30   Crown isn't seated far enough. Can see too much metal on back. Biting
surface feels like it was filled with
   resin because mold was taken over excessive resin build-up due to Dr.
grinding down too far on last crown,
   causing metal to show through. No cusps. Crown extremely larger than rest
of teeth.

31   No cusps. Sharp along back edge. Discoloration that looks like decay.
Floss snagging Between (30) &
   (31).

FM   Unable to complete bleaching because trays no longer fit. Was only able
to complete 50%.