Posted by writeradmin
I was in a bit of a bind. I needed to replace the overdenture for my four mini dental implants, but I was scheduled to move in ten weeks for a new job. There was no wiggle room on the time. I went to see my dentist and asked how long it would take to complete the denture so I could decide whether to have it done before I moved or after. He told me three weeks. So, I moved forward. Fast forward eight weeks and they FINALLY came in. I was starting to sweat a bit about that. The dentist had a heck of a time getting them on. In fact, it was quite the uncomfortable appointment as he forced them into place. I went home in a bit of pain. I thought that would go away after some time for the area to calm down. It didn’t. They next day, I was still in tremendous pain and could barely eat. I even had trouble with pasta. I called the office. They said I could come in but my regular dentist wasn’t there. I could see his partner. I went in. That dentist told me that the lab didn’t make the dentures properly. The holes weren’t properly drilled out and the dentures were slanted the wrong way. He told me they could make new ones. I can’t wait on new ones. I leave in two weeks. While they did provide me with a denture, it doesn’t work. Can I get a refund? I’m going to have to get a new one made when I move.
Elliot
Dear Elliot,
What a nightmare! First, you should know that three weeks was the appropriate amount for dentures to have been finished. I don’t know what took so long, but it does give me pause about his skills. Then, when it did come in many weeks late, it wasn’t made properly, which is another dent in my confidence with this dentist.
Because he had a contractual obligation to you when he told you three weeks which he didn’t meet, and the fact that the overdentures for your mini implants didn’t even work, I’d say you have more than enough of a reason to get a refund. If your dentist doesn’t cooperate, let him know that you will be posting your experience on all the review sites. This will have an impact on his business. You could always tell him that if he does give you your refund right away that you will make sure to post a review about how he did everything to make it right when the procedure didn’t work out. If that doesn’t work, you can also threaten to go to the dental board.
Just ask for the refund first without mentioning your leverage. Then, if he doesn’t respond ethically, you can bring up the other options.
This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. John Theriot.