Toothaches suck
Ok I'm going to post my story then get a poll on if you think I've got ground for a lawsuit. I know how sue-happy this country is getting, so off the bad I'll just say I'm not looking to get rich quick, and all I'm looking for is having work corrected, not having to pay a lawyer, and not lose wages. Here goes.
About a year ago I had a root canal on my way back upper left molar. Part of it was my own fault because I didn't get to the dentist right away when I realized I had a cavity, and let it go for months. I didn't have any pain at all, I wouldn't have even known I had a cavity unless something got stuck in it. Anyways they do the root canal and said that I need a crown on the tooth or it'll chip and break off. Fine. When all's said and done, even WITH insurance, I paid $600 out of pocket (plus interest, because I could only afford to do it on credit). Five months go by. Now it's a week and a half before my wedding. I'm snacking on some carrots and the darn thing pops off! Granted carrots are tough to chew, but it's only been 5 months. If I wanted something that was going to come out I would have gotten a denture. Anyways I call the dentist and they fit me in that day to put it back in. This was Thursday. Monday morning (four days later, not yesterday Monday) while eating a bowl of cereal it came off again. So I call back, this time less forgiving, and they schedule me for the next night after I got out of work to put it in AGAIN. While sitting in the chair, the hygienist is scraping the cement off and her cell phone rang. She threw down my tooth and the equipment, and RAN into the break room to answer. 10 minutes later she came back (and I not so nicely reminded her that I had a lot of things to do before my wedding, including still pick up my dress) and they sent me on my way. The very next day it came out yet again while eating bread! Now I'm furious, and even more so when they say they can't see me until Friday. As in, the day before my wedding. Hello!! So they said they can do an emergency visit the next day but can't guarantee what time I'll be seen. Which doesn't really constitute an emergency visit, in my opinion. I said what choice have I got and agreed (after arguing the point that I also had to get to my rehearsal that night by 4). Then someone at work suggested I call their dentist who wonderfully saw me that night. He cemented it back into place but said the crown prep was so poorly done that no matter what you use, it's eventually going to fall out again and it needs to be redone. And the crown was poor quality and needs to be redone. I explained my story and asked if they could send the bill to Aspen and not only did they say "This one's on us as your wedding gift" but they sent me a wedding card! (These guys are the best) He gave me pictures and x-rays to use as evidence and if they don't refund my money to have it re-done properly he'd back me up with the Monroe County Dental Association. Also, the crown is a poor fit and my gums are growing in to where the crown should be protecting and could easily get infected.
So I called the management with a vengeance leaving several messages and never got a response to a one. Life got in the way and six months passed. (The statute of limitations on this is three years, I've already checked) The other night I started having this wicked headache on my left side. Then I realize, it's not my head, it's my jaw. I don't have insurance until next Thursday so I can't find out what's wrong. It may be an infection, or it might be my impacted wisdom tooth right next to the molar causing all the trouble that the very same dentsit said wouldn't need to be pulled. I decided now is as good of a time as any to resume my little quest to get a refund. I sent them an e-mail Saturday telling them my exact story (in more detail) and telling them they have one week to call me back or e-mail me and if they don't I'm going to the Better Business Bureau, the Monroe County Dental Association, and checking with a lawyer to see if I have a malpractice suit. Which, I think I do. I'm in so much pain that it keeps me awake at night. I'm taking Aleve, the max I'm allowed to every day, and using Orajel and it's getting worse every day. Not to mention, a different dentist at a different Aspen location told Frank one of his wisdom teeth didn't need to be removed, and it later ruptured and ruined the tooth next to it. He ate through a straw for two weeks.
What do you think, should I just suck it up and pay to have it redone? Or take them to court and make them pay to have it corrected, to pull my wisdom teeth, pay for my lawyer, and for any lost wages? Or, something else entirely?
The moral of the story: Do not visit a dentist with Aspen Dental unless your life depends on it. Even then, you might be better of taking your chances.
About a year ago I had a root canal on my way back upper left molar. Part of it was my own fault because I didn't get to the dentist right away when I realized I had a cavity, and let it go for months. I didn't have any pain at all, I wouldn't have even known I had a cavity unless something got stuck in it. Anyways they do the root canal and said that I need a crown on the tooth or it'll chip and break off. Fine. When all's said and done, even WITH insurance, I paid $600 out of pocket (plus interest, because I could only afford to do it on credit). Five months go by. Now it's a week and a half before my wedding. I'm snacking on some carrots and the darn thing pops off! Granted carrots are tough to chew, but it's only been 5 months. If I wanted something that was going to come out I would have gotten a denture. Anyways I call the dentist and they fit me in that day to put it back in. This was Thursday. Monday morning (four days later, not yesterday Monday) while eating a bowl of cereal it came off again. So I call back, this time less forgiving, and they schedule me for the next night after I got out of work to put it in AGAIN. While sitting in the chair, the hygienist is scraping the cement off and her cell phone rang. She threw down my tooth and the equipment, and RAN into the break room to answer. 10 minutes later she came back (and I not so nicely reminded her that I had a lot of things to do before my wedding, including still pick up my dress) and they sent me on my way. The very next day it came out yet again while eating bread! Now I'm furious, and even more so when they say they can't see me until Friday. As in, the day before my wedding. Hello!! So they said they can do an emergency visit the next day but can't guarantee what time I'll be seen. Which doesn't really constitute an emergency visit, in my opinion. I said what choice have I got and agreed (after arguing the point that I also had to get to my rehearsal that night by 4). Then someone at work suggested I call their dentist who wonderfully saw me that night. He cemented it back into place but said the crown prep was so poorly done that no matter what you use, it's eventually going to fall out again and it needs to be redone. And the crown was poor quality and needs to be redone. I explained my story and asked if they could send the bill to Aspen and not only did they say "This one's on us as your wedding gift" but they sent me a wedding card! (These guys are the best) He gave me pictures and x-rays to use as evidence and if they don't refund my money to have it re-done properly he'd back me up with the Monroe County Dental Association. Also, the crown is a poor fit and my gums are growing in to where the crown should be protecting and could easily get infected.
So I called the management with a vengeance leaving several messages and never got a response to a one. Life got in the way and six months passed. (The statute of limitations on this is three years, I've already checked) The other night I started having this wicked headache on my left side. Then I realize, it's not my head, it's my jaw. I don't have insurance until next Thursday so I can't find out what's wrong. It may be an infection, or it might be my impacted wisdom tooth right next to the molar causing all the trouble that the very same dentsit said wouldn't need to be pulled. I decided now is as good of a time as any to resume my little quest to get a refund. I sent them an e-mail Saturday telling them my exact story (in more detail) and telling them they have one week to call me back or e-mail me and if they don't I'm going to the Better Business Bureau, the Monroe County Dental Association, and checking with a lawyer to see if I have a malpractice suit. Which, I think I do. I'm in so much pain that it keeps me awake at night. I'm taking Aleve, the max I'm allowed to every day, and using Orajel and it's getting worse every day. Not to mention, a different dentist at a different Aspen location told Frank one of his wisdom teeth didn't need to be removed, and it later ruptured and ruined the tooth next to it. He ate through a straw for two weeks.
What do you think, should I just suck it up and pay to have it redone? Or take them to court and make them pay to have it corrected, to pull my wisdom teeth, pay for my lawyer, and for any lost wages? Or, something else entirely?
The moral of the story: Do not visit a dentist with Aspen Dental unless your life depends on it. Even then, you might be better of taking your chances.