Absolute day from HELL!!!

I'm in the process of having my 6 front top teeth crowned. I've had dark gray stained teeth from taking Tetracycline as child while my permanent teeth were still forming. I did the crown prep 2 weeks ago. Well last Thursday my dentist office called and the impression they made to make the crowns turned out to be unusable. So this afternoon I went back in to have the impression remade. So today the doc came in and deadened me again so his assistant could do what she needed to do to make another impression. The assistant had trouble getting the temporary teeth I'm wearing to come out. It took her about 5 minutes of pulling to get the right side loose so she could get them out. When she started in on the left, she was a lot rougher and her angle was different. She ended breaking the temporary and tooth number 10. That 's the tooth just to the left of the two front teeth. She broke my tooth off right at the gum line!!! I had to have an emergency root-canal. But the worst part was the doc couldn't get me numb and had to give me a shot in the open exposed root of the broken tooth. I'm no wimp, I can deal with pain, this was way, way, way beyond anything I have ever had to deal with before. I actually screamed and had tears pouring down. By then my nerves were completely shot. Every time they came toward me with an instrument I clinched my fists and flinched. The assistant mentioned that I might need gas. The tears were still flowing and I said I'd try just about anything at this point. Apparently my nerve bundles are not where they are supposed to be in the roof of my mouth, because they never did get me completely numb where they were working. I'd rather go through labor and delivery 20 times than to ever have to do that again. I'm paying these people $4,000 to crown my front teeth with state of the art porcelain crowns, called Empress. Now I can't have them because they broke my tooth. Now I have to get the kind with the metal insides and procelain outside. I only did this to replace the awful gray teeth I've lived with and been ashamed of all my life. I often smile or laugh with my hand in front of my mouth. I specifically shopped for the most natural looking of all porcelain material. I'm so disheartened. I now wish I'd never started this whole mess... Thanks for letting me vent. Va

I'm so sorry, Va. I felt your pain and feel so badly that you have had to endure it. Take care and keep us posted on how you're doing. Maureen

Oh Va, I'm so, so sorry. Is there anyone else you can see to get a secod opinion? I think I'd be making a fuss for free dental work. I just feel so bad for you right now. Connie

Hi Va......Ive been in the dental field for over 20 something years...the dentist CAN still do the Empress crowns, the only thing different they have to do is since they broke #10... they now need to do a post and core buildup ontop of the rootcanal they just did. After that they can just reprep the tooth and retake the impression. So dont give up hope it can be done as you wish! Good Luck and be demanding it was their fault, not yours. It is just going to dip into his profit by having to do the core buildup on the tooth that his assistant broke. Kimberly

I'm so sorry dear! What a horrible experience!!! I like what Kimberly said. If this group does not want to cooperate, I think an attorney might be able to encourage them to pay another dentist! I have a porcelain crown and porcelain veneer on my front two teeth and it was not fun getting there, but I went through NOTHING like you have! You really deserve for something to go your way, Girlfriend! Love ya, Joy -40 lbs

Oh Honey! I feel for you! The last time I went to the dentist I had to take some pills.... knocked me flat except that I was still walking and talking. Where and about what I have no clue, and that was just to get a filling done. I am a huge blubbering mess when I gotta go. Even for a cleaning and I had 4 years of braces! Funny the ortho didn't bother me too much but I can't even sit in the waiting room when my DH gets his work done. The doc who put me out actually looked at me in the parking lot the first time!!!! Take care and good luck! Gayle

I'm not a litigous person but it's possible you should consider suing. But you've been through a lot, one way and another, and you're probably too tired to go through it. I'd be REALLY pissed off that I couldn't have the crowns I wanted because of that kind of mistake. I have crowns that are the type you mention you are going to have and they look good, but I know it's all in having what you had your heart set on. In any case, you have my sympathy for this and everything else you've had to go through. Gano

Va, Bless your heart, I am sooo sorry to hear that you had to go through so much. I hope that you are at least feeling better now. What will you do now? Will you be happy with the metal inside and porcelain inside? It seems like to me that they would give you a major discount. I know that it is not going to help but at least you are in a position where something can still be done. It could be worse. I will keep you in my prayers and I am sending you a big hug and much love. Shannon The Irish Lassie 3/17/04 -40