When you go to the dentist, you, like most people, hope that there is nothing wrong with your teeth. You take steps to prevent damage, such as brushing regularly and flossing. You use mouthwash and take care of your mouth overall.
Despite that, your last visit resulted in your dentist saying you needed a shocking number of fillings and a root canal. Taking their word for it, you had the work done at the cost of thousands of dollars out of pocket. Later, you left that dentist and went to see someone else. They reviewed the files and called you into the office to relay their concerns about the work you had done. Why did you have fillings when the past X-rays didn’t indicate the need?
If your dentist did work unnecessarily, you could have a claim
There are all kinds of reasons why dentists might suggest unnecessary dental treatments without considering your overall dental health. They might see that you have an excellent insurance policy and decide to try to get as much out of it as they can. They might have gone through dental training suggesting that they are aggressive with treatments even when less aggressive options might have been preferable.
What should you do if you’ve had unnecessary dental work done?
If you see a new dentist and they suggest that you’ve had unnecessary dental work performed, it’s important for you to reach out to your local dental board to make a complaint. Usually, complaints that are filed will be followed up on, and the board can review what happened and if they suspect wrongdoing.
It is helpful if you have another dentist to corroborate with. If you get a second opinion and the dentist is willing to speak on your behalf, they may also consult with the dental board to explain why the standard of care was not met.
If you plan to do these things, you may want to talk to your attorney about the best way to complete a report for the board and to file a claim against the dentist. It may be possible to pursue a claim for dental malpractice.
