Angry, shattered brand new £500 dental splint

[Oucht]

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.

Dentist is gonna be peed off.

Urgh, he’s gonna think I’m an adiot for managing to break something and not having a clue how I’ve done it!!

This is a rather odd reaction. Why would the dentist be pissed off with you?

It took multiple appointments with scans and fittings to get it all set right and then it goes and breaks on me.

remember most of the work went into the scans and getting the fit right. The actual retainer would have cost very little so it won’t cost them much to make another.

just go in and say I’m terribly sorry but the one you gave me is faulty as it broke. Can you investigate and provide me with another? Don’t even suggest you will pay for it.

He shouldn’t. My implant crown broke within the first few months and was replaced at the dentist’s cost. (The titanium root was fine.)

And you paid for those appointments. The breakage is more likely to piss you off than the professional just doing his job. His main concern should be was it fit for purpose or was there an error in its production?

No need for OP to say she's "terribly sorry". She didn't bung it in the microwave or reverse a car over it.

@GreatFinch thank you so much for your very helpful post and the benefit of your expert advice!

Just say it broke when you were wearing it over night. If you don't feel confident confronting the dentist ring up and tell the receptionist and say you are going to need a replacement, they can relay the message to the dentist. As other's have said the dentist should be very apologetic, it really could have been dangerous if you had swallowed those small bits, it should be practically impossible for it to break in your mouth.

Thank you for all helping. Just have to wait the 2 weeks to see him now.

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.

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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.

@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

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.

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.

What would your wording be?

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