How Can I Get a Refund for 4 Faulty Dental Crowns?

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I used CareCredit for dental work. I paid off the CareCredit bill, but the dentist isn’t finished with the work. I’ve decided to switch to another dentist to get my four new crowns to fit correctly because my dentist overprepared my teeth. Regardless of what he does, the crowns won’t stay on. I asked for a refund. I don’t want my current dentist to try to correct the issue or finish the remaining dental work I need. Whenever I call the office about the refund, they say the billing office is working on it. It’s been three months since my request. How can I get a refund? Thank you. Jaime T. from TX

 

Jaime,

Dental crowns before and after photos from Baton Rouge dentist Dr. BrooksherAfter CareCredit approves your application, the company pays the dental office for your treatment plan upfront and deducts processing fees. If your dental work is incomplete, the dentist must refund you.

How Can You Get a Refund from Your Dentist for Faulty Crowns?

You can get a refund from your dentist for faulty crowns with the following steps:

  1. Contact your dentist and request payment again. If they do not refund you, you can submit negative online reviews and report the issue to the state dental Board.
  2. If your dentist refuses to refund you, submit a negative review about your experience on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Two-thirds of people looking for a dentist read online reviews, and dentists know that and are sensitive to negative reviews.
  3. If a dental insurance company paid for any of your care, notify the insurance company. They will object to paying for faulty dental crowns.
  4. Contact the dental Board in your state. Although the dental Board cannot order your dentist to issue a refund, they may issue a warning or reprimand.

We hope your dentist will refund you without a hassle. We recommend finding an experienced cosmetic dentist with post-graduate occlusion and bite training. The dentist’s training will ensure you get crowns that fit and function well.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge-accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

 

Why do new crowns make my teeth sensitive and burn my gums?

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The whole process of getting crowns from my dentist has been a nightmare. They are burning my gums now, and my teeth are sensitive. I’m blaming myself a bit because the temporary crowns were a mess, too. They felt like they were leaking, and my teeth hurt beneath them. I told my dentist that I was worried about infection, so he prescribed an antibiotic. He did not check my teeth or anything–just gave me a prescription. When I got my six new crowns, my dentist filed and re-filed my teeth because my bite was off. I felt fluid rushing beneath the crowns whenever I drank anything, so my dentist sent the crowns back, and I wore temporaries. The temporaries felt better than the crowns and the first set of temporaries. Now I’ve been wearing my new crowns for two weeks, and my teeth are sensitive, and my gums are burning. Fortunately, my dentist used temporary cement. But something is not right with the crowns. But as I said, this has been a nightmare from day one. What should I do to prevent this situation from getting worse? I had a little anxiety before this process began. But I have hyperventilated three times at the dental office recently. Can I switch dentists in the middle of treatment, or is it too late? – Marquita from GA

Marquita,

Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your teeth, gums, and new crowns for an accurate diagnosis. But we can be helpful. Please do not allow your dentist to bond your crowns to your teeth permanently.

New Dental Crowns and Burning Gums

If your gums are burning and teeth are sensitive after new dental crowns, ask your dentist for the exact composition of the crowns. When a lab makes crowns, they send a dental alloy certificate listing all materials in the crown. And if your crowns are porcelain-fused-to-metal, you might have a metal allergy or sensitivity. It would explain why your gums are burning, and your teeth are sensitive.

Challenges of Placing Dental Crowns on Front Teeth

Face of a woman relaxed during dental treatment for information on sedation dentistry from Dr. Brooksher of Baton Rouge

Sedation will relieve your anxiety while a cosmetic dentist restores your teeth

When a dentist places a crown on your front teeth, they must ensure your bite is adjusted. But your dentist placed six crowns, which increases the challenge of bite adjustment. A dentist with advanced training in occlusion and bite can adjust your bite accurately without extensively filing your teeth down to stumps.

And when you suspected that you might have a tooth infection, your dentist prescribed antibiotics instead of identifying the cause of your discomfort.

Can You Switch Dentists in the Middle of Treatment?

Yes, you can switch dentists in the middle of getting new crowns. First, look for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training—preferably accredited—to examine your teeth. The dentist can explain sedation options to prevent anxiety from overwhelming you. Then, the dentist will determine if your crowns have a metal foundation or if something else is causing tooth sensitivity and burning gums. Your new crowns should feel so comfortable that you don’t notice them at all.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. Read why so many of his patients think he is among the best dentists in Baton Rouge.