Angry, shattered brand new £500 dental splint

Oucht · 2025-05-26T10:53:28+00:00

I had a years old splint to stop my smashing my teeth while I sleep. My new dentist made a lovely new one £500. It started to get a bit loose after 5 days so I have an appt in a few weeks. 3 nights later, put it in before bed, pull it out in the morning and it’s shattered, broken right through. How the hell have I done it? Dentist is gonna be peed off. I’m angry that it’s happened and can’t afford another £500.

Original poster

Oucht · 27/05/2025 14:55

I've emailed them. Will wait to see what comes of it.

OP posts:

timechecknow · 27/05/2025 10:56

Oucht · 26/05/2025 21:58

Hi I have sent you a pm. Hope that’s ok.
Going to email them tomorrow to tell them.
I know they won’t get me in sooner. He only does a few days a week.. owner of the practise who has an implant centre in London too.
Very skilled dentist who knows it!

Show quote history

Btw there are plenty of bad dentists in London incl Harley Street from personal experience. Not saying yours is bad but don't just assume he's some kind of god

timechecknow · 27/05/2025 10:55

Bananafofana · 27/05/2025 10:25

at our orthodontist and dentist there are no appointments for weeks for routine matters but if it’s an emergency and you’re in pain - or an appliance or device has broken - they can always fit you in sooner. They keep appointments back every day for these circumstances.

Seconding this. There are always emergency appt buffers.

timechecknow · 27/05/2025 10:54

I'm not assertive at all. As an example when the anaesthesia wore off during a procedure I didn't dare to say a thing and chose to go through hell instead.

But I don't see at all why you're self blaming here. It was not fit for purpose - not necessarily badly made but it couldn't function as intended. If I were the dentist I'd be curious and concerned, and wanting to address the issue (the issue with the item, not with your sleep habits which are a known factor), rather than angry.

It seems really weird for you to be self blaming. If your dentist is shaming/blaming you for grinding in your sleep you need to change dentist! It's a practical dental issue, not a moral one.

Bananafofana · 27/05/2025 10:25

at our orthodontist and dentist there are no appointments for weeks for routine matters but if it’s an emergency and you’re in pain - or an appliance or device has broken - they can always fit you in sooner. They keep appointments back every day for these circumstances.

Fyreheart · 27/05/2025 10:13

Oucht · 26/05/2025 22:33

I Know the way I feel is stupid. I always put blame on myself.
No stamping, no throwing, no hammering, no bending into a pretzel shape to see how fast I could lose £500!

Show quote history

Right!

You used it correctly, it was faulty

If you bought a pair of shoes and the sole fell off on the first time you put them on, would that be your fault? No, same here.

Original poster

Oucht · 27/05/2025 10:11

I know there are no sooner appointments. I tried that when I phoned before. I am on their cancellation list.

OP posts:

OnTheBoardwalk · 27/05/2025 09:57

@Oucht Personally I would speak to them but if sending a mail something along the lines of

‘i need to bring my appointment forward. The appointment was to tighten my new SCI however this has now broken/shattered on the faulty side

please let me know if the appointment can be brought forward, if not I’ll bring the defective SCI to my original appointment on the xxx’

Bananafofana · 27/05/2025 09:57

No matter what they have in their terms and conditions they can’t contract out of your statutory rights (I’m a solicitor - not offering you legal advice but but this is pretty cut and dried)

Bananafofana · 27/05/2025 09:55

Hello

I am writing to see if I can have an appointment sooner than I have booked on [date] as I need a replacement SCI splint.

I was very disappointed that the splint broke after only a few days use (being used strictly as directed). I assume that a replacement will be at no cost to me as the device appears to be faulty.

If an appointment isn’t available sooner, please could you let [dentist name] know about the fault with the splint ? I would imagine he will need to let the lab know,

Thank you

BobbyBiscuits · 27/05/2025 09:52

Oucht · 27/05/2025 09:40

No it’s a splint that keeps the majority of my teeth apart.

Show quote history

Ah, Ok. I'm not familiar with those. But it's definitely not your fault it broke!

Original poster

Oucht · 27/05/2025 09:50

OnTheBoardwalk · 27/05/2025 09:36

@Oucht sorry but that email is far too apologetic for something that’s not your fault

just see it as any other item, TV, kitchen equipment, that got faulty 5 days after you purchased it then broke completely. You'd be asking for refund or replacement straight away

What would your wording be?

OP posts:

Original poster

Oucht · 27/05/2025 09:49

ByLilacMember · 27/05/2025 09:44

Is their work guaranteed for any length of time. With NHS dental treatment like a filling you've got a year, as I read in small print on the treatment plan document. Might be worth calling up

No looked it up and it says this

no warranties, either express or implied, for things like fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy of information, or satisfactory quality. Additionally, they disclaim liability for losses arising from events beyond their control.

OP posts:

ByLilacMember · 27/05/2025 09:44

Is their work guaranteed for any length of time. With NHS dental treatment like a filling you've got a year, as I read in small print on the treatment plan document. Might be worth calling up

Original poster

Oucht · 27/05/2025 09:40

BobbyBiscuits · 27/05/2025 09:39

Is it like a mouthguard? A bespoke one? My dentist only charged me £100 for that.
It's definitely defective if it's broken like that. It's not your fault. Make them replace it for free. You should be pissed off with them, not the other way round.

No it’s a splint that keeps the majority of my teeth apart.

OP posts:

BobbyBiscuits · 27/05/2025 09:39

Is it like a mouthguard? A bespoke one? My dentist only charged me £100 for that.
It's definitely defective if it's broken like that. It's not your fault. Make them replace it for free. You should be pissed off with them, not the other way round.

OnTheBoardwalk · 27/05/2025 09:36

@Oucht sorry but that email is far too apologetic for something that’s not your fault

just see it as any other item, TV, kitchen equipment, that got faulty 5 days after you purchased it then broke completely. You'd be asking for refund or replacement straight away

TunnocksOrDeath · 27/05/2025 09:26

You can be perfectly sweet and polite at the same time as requesting either a refund or a replacement, it doesn’t have to be confrontational. Just take it back. It’s not fit for purpose., and any reasonable business owner would agree. The dentist will definitely want to know if their technician has messed up.

Original poster

Oucht · 27/05/2025 09:20

I’ve put together an email to send. Does this sound ok?

Hello I wanted to inform you of a slight change in the reason for my upcoming appointment on [insert date] that I booked due to my new SCI splint becoming loose.

Since booking the appointment, the splint has unfortunately broken/shattered during the night on the loose side.
l'm not sure how it happened. I was using it as advised. I will bring the splint to the appointment to discuss.
Thank you

OP posts:

catlovingdoctor · 26/05/2025 23:05

I'm also a dentist. I definitely wouldn't be apologetic about seeking a replacement!

cryinginthechapel · 26/05/2025 22:54

Another dentist here that thinks the splint wasn’t fit for purpose. Email and ask for a replacement free of charge. A lot of labs have a one year guarantee on their products anyway

TatteredAndTorn · 26/05/2025 22:38

I would approach the appointment by saying things like “I’m really disappointed that the splint has broken after just a few days use”. You are then setting the conversation in the right footing. If you go in apologising or saying “I don’t know how I’ve done it” you are setting up the conversation as if it’s your fault. Just don’t do this. You can say “I don’t know how this has happened, it broke in the night, I have used it and cleaned it exactly as you directed, I am very disappointed that it’s broken this quickly”. So you don’t need to go in all guns blazing or say “This thing is rubbish, what are you going to do about it” but equally do not admit or accept fault or blame. Much easier non-confrontational conversation if you are not that assertive. If you are not sure about doing

this and think you will slip into accepting blame, try practicing with someone before you go.

Good luck!

Original poster

Oucht · 26/05/2025 22:33

Fyreheart · 26/05/2025 22:01

If it has broken so quickly, it's clearly not fit for purpose.

Why are you feeling guilty? Did you stamp on it?

Show quote history

I Know the way I feel is stupid. I always put blame on myself.
No stamping, no throwing, no hammering, no bending into a pretzel shape to see how fast I could lose £500!

OP posts:

Fyreheart · 26/05/2025 22:01

Oucht · 26/05/2025 14:05

That’s if I get another one. He’s a very good dentist. I feel guilty that I’ve managed to break it even though I don’t know how I’ve done it.

Concerned I’ll be left without one.

Im just clumsy thanks to brain medication I’m on for nerve issues so usually when something breaks it’s my fault.

If it has broken so quickly, it's clearly not fit for purpose.

Why are you feeling guilty? Did you stamp on it?

Original poster

Oucht · 26/05/2025 21:58

CanadaNotAMum · 26/05/2025 21:27

Is the dentist aware that’s is broken? If not, call or email them and say that it fell apart after 9 days of normal use and ask for an earlier appointment. And please don’t apologize to the dentist. There is no reason whatsoever. Listen to the others on this thread who have told you that you are the customer, you didn’t do anything wrong, and it is likely a problem with how it was made or fitted. These things happen, the dentist or lab should be the one making it right!

I’m you aren’t sure what to say, email them instead of calling. Let me know and I will be happy to write something that you can just copy and paste if that helps.

Show quote history

Hi I have sent you a pm. Hope that’s ok.
Going to email them tomorrow to tell them.
I know they won’t get me in sooner. He only does a few days a week.. owner of the practise who has an implant centre in London too.
Very skilled dentist who knows it!

OP posts: