I have four mini implants. The overdenture needed replacing. I asked my dentist how long it would take because I had to move out of state in eleven weeks. He told me it would take three weeks. I was fine with that. It would leave me planty of wiggle room. Unfortunately, it actually took nine weeks for them to get in. Even then, when the dentist tried to put them in, they did not fit properly. The dentist forced them in but I found the whole thing very painful. Even when I was trying to eat noodles later that day, I was hurting. I went ahead and took them out (with great difficulty) to give my mouth and jaw a break. The next day, when I tried to put them back in I couldn’t. I called the office and ended up seeing a different dentist in their practice because the other one had the day off. He said there were some problems with the dentures and they needed to be redone. Here’s what he says needs to be fixed:
- The holes around the attachments were not properly drilled out
- The teeth are slanted slightly backward
- One side of the denture is lower than the other.
My question is given that I have no time left to wait on these before I move, is it reasonable for me to ask for a refund?
David
Dear David,
I’m glad you wrote. I believe it is not only reasonable for you to get a refund, but you are entitled to one. When he told you that the denture would be ready in three weeks and they weren’t, they were in breach of contract. Plus, they didn’t just barely miss it, They missed it by 300%!
Even then, when it did come in, it was unsatistfactory. It didn’t fit and and the dentist had to force it on. Furthermore, a second dentist found major structural issues with it.
That pain you were experiencing was because of those structural problems. The dentures were throwing off yout bite. If left this way, it could have led to TMJ Disorder and a lifetime of jaw pain and headaches.
You should not have a problem getting a refund given these circumstances, but just in case, here is how you should approach this. Start by asking nicely for a refund. Tell him, if he does you will leave him a nice review saying all the things that his office did well. If he refuses, then you are going to have to get tough. I would start by asking him where he received his dental implant training. Ask for specific schools. Also ask if he has worked with mini implants before. Get specific information on that as well. If he is still uncooperative, then tell him you will be turning him in to the dental board.
Best of luck to you in your new location.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.