Has anyone pursued a dental no win no fee type thing?

[TVTurtle]

I had a root canal done a few years ago, I can’t remember exactly when, or what dentist did it.

I went to my dentist with pain in the same tooth and he said he’d take it out and put a crown in which he did.

I went back a few month later and said I was having pain in the same tooth which was ridiculous as it wasn’t my tooth anymore and he said I had ‘failed root canal’ and would need to go to a specialist to redo it.

I went to the specialist and he did his stuff but he said, “there’s a ‘metal thing’ showing up on your X-ray, it looks like the end of an instrument, I can’t get it out but I’ve done the best I can and hopefully this is all sorted.” I was never told that a piece of instrument had broken off in any of my previous sessions.

Now, 6 months later, it’s hurting again. The next step is proper surgery to get this ‘thing’ out and redo the root canal again. I really can’t afford to pay for this a fourth time (particularly as it’s proper GA surgery this time) and I’m presuming the problems are because of this bit of instrument that has broken off and left in there.

So am I right in thinking that my dental records/X-rays will show at which point the bit of instrument was left in there and then they should pay? I’m not interested in compensation, I just want to cover the surgery that I can’t afford because it bloody hurts!

What do you mean he took it out and gave you a crown? You can’t crown a tooth that has been extracted?

I mean that I had root canal with my tooth in place and filling.
When I went back with pain he said he’d take the tooth out and (I presume) do the root canal again and put a crown in.

so

• original problem - root canal, tooth not extracted
• second problem - tooth extracted, crown in
• third problem - failed root canal ‘fixed’ - told there was something metal in the root that he couldn’t get out but he hope he’d sorted anyway.
• fourth problem now - root canal failed again

Also when I say crown I could have the wrong term - it basically a fake tooth drilled in

Dentist here. Your post is a bit confusing.
I am presuming the tooth is still present and hasn't been removed yet?

Separated endodontist instruments/files are a really common occurrence and aren't neglible.

What potentially could be neglible is if it was noted at the time but you were not informed of it or it wasn't reported. However sometimes, if it's a small separation it might have simply been missed or not visible in original radiographs).

You firstly need to get a copy of the notes and see what's written in them.

You yourself cannot recall what was done or said at the time, so the notes will help to clarify that.

Remember that the dentist is trying to help you. We are working in a tiny area using microscopic equipment in small spaces, and with all the best will in the world sometimes things don't go to plan. It can be a total pain trying to get an old root filling out, and prognosis significantly drops second time round. Sometimes there can be extra canals, micro fractures in the root, or the tooth can just simply be too weak to hold up to the restoration any more.

Not all root canal treatments will work, even if files haven't been separated in the canals.

And there are studies that suggest that a broken file can have a no effect on the long term prognosis of a root filled tooth anyway.

Then, and I hate to mention this, is that there is an element of personal responsibility as well. Why did the tooth need root treated in the first instance?

So I would get the notes first and see what has been written.

If you feel you have a case please try and resolve it locally rather than going to one of those ambulance chaser companies. All dental practices have complaints policies and procedures and probably can be, and should be resolved locally as much as possible. It cuts down on the stress all round.

I absolutely don’t want to be go down an ambulance chaser route and I don’t want anyone to get in trouble but I just can’t afford to keep paying for the same thing over and over.

@typopro thank you for your message and yes, fully aware that this wasn’t someone doing harm, they were trying to do good and anything that happened was an accident but if something was left in my root and has, maybe, caused it to fail again and again what should I do? I was not told.
How do I go about getting my notes? Do I just ask? And does my current dentist have my previous dentist notes or do I have to go to all of them (I’ve moved around a lot!)

also this is the only root canal/dentistry I’ve had apart from 2 fillings when I was early teens. I look after my teeth!

Oh sorry and to answer your first question @typopro I think I have answered but my tooth was in, when I went back it was taken out and now I have a crown

I would start by writing a letter to your current dentist asking for a copy of your dental records. Ask for a copy of radiographs also. Ask for comments as well.
In your opinion, does this look as if the separated instrument has caused the issue.

If this was not the dentist who did the original work, then you need to ask the original practice for a copy of the original records.

One way to deal with this is to go back to the specialist, and ask them for an independent report and advice as to your next steps. The dentist will have an indemnity company who should be able to deal with this.

Also you cannot place a crown on a tooth that has been extracted. Do you mean a bridge?

Thank you very much @typopro i will write to the specialist and get his take, and also ask for my records.

And yes maybe a bridge? I have had a tooth taken out and a fake tooth put in its place, and the specialist has gone through that ‘tooth’ to try and re-fix the root canal and now that hasn’t worked

like I say - j don’t want to cause anyone trouble but I do want it sorted and the specialist seemed to think that this instrument was why was worried

So ( still confused). Sounds like the tooth is still there then? Or at least the roots are still present.
If so you might have a crown ( or post crown ) currently in place.

If the tooth has been extracted, including the roots, then the space would be filled with a bridge.

As the surgery you talk about in the first post? Not sure what you mean by surgery, or GA.... if the failed root is still present they might mean a surgical procedure to remove the root. This wont be done under GA. Or, at least extremely unlikely.

I think you need to go back to your dentist and get it all crystal clear in your head as to what exactly has happened in the past, and what the next stages are to sort this out. YOU need to understand the issues before you ask others for opinions if you see what I mean. Make sure the dentist/specialists explains it all in layman's terms. Ask them to talk you through the notes as well

@typopro - Then, and I hate to mention this, is that there is an element of personal responsibility as well. Why did the tooth need root treated in the first instance?

This is a bit unfair! No matter why OP needed a root canal, it's surely up to the dentist not to leave bits of tools in her mouth?

@piedbeauty

It's not directed at the OP. Their case sounds stressful, and no dentist would purposely leave bits of instruments in a patients mouth.

But it's a general comment. And it is valid. As a population we consume too much sugary drinks and foods, we often don't attend the dentist until we are in pain or it's too late, and we neglect our oral hygiene.

Someone once made a complaint about me because I dared to suggest the reason they had gum disease was because they didn't clean the plaque off their teeth.
Someone else once complained that they weren't happy that I suggested a crown instead of a filling as their tooth was a carious mess.

It's the same for general health. Eat better, exercise, don't smoke.

@typopro a patient once complained because I checked through their medical history at the end of an exam appointment rather than at the beginning