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Re: Bridge nightmare

Posted by cs on 10/7/2009, 9:16 am, in reply to "Bridge nightmare"

Hi, Regina . . . I don't mean to sound overly critical, because the distress you're experiencing is obvious from your messages . . . but the nature of your problem seems to keep changing as your story unfolds. Initially (in your previous message), you wrote: <<. . . I have just gotten crowns and I think that they are too short.>> Now you write that initially you had four crowns and (subsequently) wanted a longer, fuller smile, though it might be the other way around: You wanted a longer, fuller smile, so agreed to four crowns. No matter which, you now say that the crowns chipped because they were too long. . . . Just curious, but is the dentist who said they were too long the same one who made them? . . . If so, do you recall any discussion regarding their length? If he advised you against longer crowns, the fact that one of them later chipped might be a sign that he was right. It also sounds like the bridge that replaced those teeth were modeled after the crowns. If so, as a lay person, it sort of makes sense to me that in view of the previous problems, he might have made the bridge thicker, to support the added length, as he's said. While I can understand your frustration if their thickness is interfering with your speech, I don't understand why shortening them would correct that — especially since you now say you were not complaining about the length; just the thickness. But there may be another explanation, which I'll mention below. I also can understand why they now may look look "too short" and still feel "too thick" . . . but wonder why the color would not match your adjacent teeth, since with the wide range of colors available, that probably should not happen. Nevertheless, if you approved the color selection or the bridge before it was attached, your dentist probably is off the hook on that. You now write:<<I told him that I felt it was the thickness I was complaining about not the length>> but if you re-read all your statements, I think you'll agree that your dentist has a point when he says it's both. In fact, you can now add color to that list. Since you mentioned that your dentist is now replacing your bridge free of charge, and that you are satisfied with your new temps, which are a tad longer, I'm not sure I understand your concern. (Actually, it sounds to me that your dentist has thrown in the towel and is ready to do whatever you ask, just to satisfy you.) As for those points I said I'd mention at the bottom of my response: Since you are talking about your front teeth, I can understand your concern. Like yours, one of mine central incisors was root canaled . . . eventually fractured and was rescued with a post and crown. Twenty-five years later they failed (due, in part, to pressure from the lower opposing teeth, which were banging up against the top teeth after they gradually crowded forward as I got older) and were replaced with an implant At almost the exact same time, an old crown on a tooth two spaces over also broke off and had to be replaced. So, since the remaining two front teeth looked like they also might need crowns eventually, I chose to have all four teeth repaired at the same time (though I chose independent crowns, instead of a bridge.) But rather than shorten either the crowns or my lower teeth, my dentist found another solution. After locating the precise spot where the teeth were clashing, he ordered the lab to sculpt the back of the top tooth a little while making that crown. Doing so alleviated the banging together of those teeth. Depending on where your teeth are hitting (if that's what caused the chip) if I were you, I'd ask if anything like that is possible . . . or if teeth must be shortened, why it could not be the lower (presumably less visible) teeth. I say that with a degree of caution, because generally, I would hesitate to alter a healthy tooth if other options exist. Finally, re: your closing statement: <<He is replacing this bridge free of charge b/c he never made me a night guard so I cant help but feel somehow a mistake was made or this would not be free of charge??>> I think you are totally wrong on this point. Although night guards often are recommended in conjunction with crowns (especially for patients who grind their teeth at night) I believe most patients pay for them — either as part of of the total treatment plan or separately, if the need is discovered after completion of the dental work. Personally, I think your dentist is just going out of his way to placate you. Truthfully, it sounds to me that although other dentists might have approached your case differently, yours has bent over backwards n his efforts to satisfy you. If anything, he probably was not forceful enough in advising you that longer crowns probably were not appropriate in your case. But aside from that, he did: (a) provide them . . . (b) made the bridge that replaced the crowns longer, as well, but made it a little thicker for added support . . . (c) shortened the crowns and pontic to alleviate speech problems (which in turn made them look "boxy" by disturbing that ratio of width:length . . . (d) is replacing the bridge free of charge. Should you just tell him that you want them longer and that if they chip you will take full responsibility? That's one option, though it doesn't sound like the odds for that bridge are in your favor. If I were you, I probably would start again with a new, cosmetic dentist. But if you, do, be sure it's someone with whom you are able to communicate and be sure to explain your expectations carefully (including "redos" and their costs) — before signing any paperwork.

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Responses: To CS and anyone else for opinion pls! - Regina 10/7/2009, 5:44 pm Re: To CS and anyone else for opinion pls! - cs 10/8/2009, 11:22 am « Back to thread

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