Should My Dentist Refund Me For Not Getting My Denture Done?
Posted by writeradmin
Can you advise me on something. I don’t think you’ll know who the dentist is because I am in a completely different state from you, but I wanted another dentist’s opinion. I needed (and still need) new overdentures for my mini implants. The hitch was that I was being transferred. I needed everything within eleven weeks. I asked my dentist how long it would take and he told me about three weeks. That would have been awesome had it happened. I didn’t get a call until week ten. Even then, when I went in, they didn’t fit. The dentist spent a while trying to get them in and then finally got them on. It actually hurt quite a bit. By the end of the day I was absolutely miserable and couldn’t even eat noodles. I called them the next morning. My regular dentist wasn’t there but they did agree to see me. The other dentist told me that the holes were not properly fitted. He said that he could order new ones, but that it would take a few weeks. I don’t have that kind of time. I’m moving. I’m just going to have to get this redone at my new location. However, I have already paid for these. I think I am within my rights to ask for a refund, but wanted to check.
Ben
Dear Ben,
I am sorry this has happened to you. The short answer is, yes, you should get a refund. There are both legal and dental reasons for you to get your money back. First, legally, he told you that the denture would be ready in three weeks but he took ten. He did not keep his end of the contract, even if it was just a verbal contract.
That brings me to the dental issue. Three weeks was the right amount of time for the dentures to be ready. He took more than three times that, which indicates there was a problem and does not speak well of his skill. Then, when they did come in they didn’t fit. Even if they offered to make you new ones, there is no reason for you to trust them considering their history. You also let them know that you have to move so they understood the timeline.
Part of the problem here is that dental implants is an unregulated part of dentistry. There is not a dental implant specialization, so any dentist can do them regardless of the post-doctoral training they’ve received. When you go to get those re-done in your new location, make certain whatever dentist you go to does have post-doctoral training in dental implants.
This blog is brought to you by Mt. Dora Dentist Dr. Michelle Stillman.