Is it unreasonable to request that he replace the crown free of charge and Is his suggested fix a good plan? (Photo)

Question

I had a wisdom tooth on the lower ride side extracted today - second molar? The first molar is a metal alloy crown fused to porcelain, which is around 5 years old and in perfect condition. The dentist described it as a difficult extraction. In the process he chipped the crown in two places (see pics) and knocked the crown off. He bonded it back on and said he would repair the exposed alloy using a composite resin next week,

Leonard Tau, DMD · Answer

Sorry to hear about your problem.  Chipped and broken teeth during extractions is a possible side effect of the procedure.  Bonding that area will definitely not work.  The crown is 5 years old and should be replaced.  I would discuss your options with the dentist.  In my opinion it should not be replaced for free, you should have some costs as it is 5 years old.  Good luck.

Victor Sanz, DDS · Answer

This was mentioned in the consent form, as it can happen.  As mentioned, the bonding to metal won't last. So what if you don't have any insurance for the doctor to get payment?In this scenario, I would replace the crown for approximately the lab fee.

Norman Huefner, DDS · Answer

It is not uncommon for a crown adjacent to an impacted wisdom tooth to loosen up or have the porcelain break off during surgery.  Many dentists and oral surgeons will mention this in their informed consent prior to the surgery.It will be unlikely that a composite resin bonded onto the crown having the porcelain fracture will remain for very long.  The bond of resin to a crown is a weak one and the back tooth is a tooth that undergoes much force and pressure.  It may be a quick fix, but in my professional opinion you will end up returning in the near future with the composite broken off and need a new crown.I advise replacing the crown and not waste your time and effort on a "patch job" of something that will soon fail.One question is "who should pay" for the new crown?  If you have dental insurance, most companies will pay for a replacement of a crown that is over 5 years old for a good reason (decay, breakage of the crown or fracture of the porcelain, etc.).  I would suggest you have a discussion with your dentist about who would end up paying for the new crown?  If it were me I would make you a new crown and just accept whatever the dental insurance company will pay.  He may want his professional liability policy may pay for the new crown.  Or he could just replace it at no charge whatsoever.The main thing is that you get this resolved as painlessly and quickly as possible and not ruin a good working relationship between the dentist and his patient.

Is it unreasonable to request that he replace the crown free of charge and Is his suggested fix a good plan? (Photo)

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Is it unreasonable to request that he replace the crown free of charge and Is his suggested fix a good plan? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.