Neighboring Tooth Breaks During Extraction - Dental Health Message Board

Kimberlie · 01-24-2008, 06:21 PM

Has anyone else had this happen? Today while having a molar extracted, the oral surgeon accidently broke the tooth in front of the extracted tooth. It was the amalgam filling that broke (there was no tooth matter on the piece that broke off - he showed it to me), and it is a rather large section of tooth. The remaining part that is left is really jagged and pokes the underside of my tongue. The tooth broke while he was trying to remove the crown on top of the tooth that was being extracted. He did call my regular dentist and left a message, and told me not to wait too long to get it fixed. He was hoping it could be repaired with just a new filling and might not require a crown. I won't know until I see my regular dentist. I can't afford another crown (or a root canal), so I'm hoping a filling will do it. If it requires more, I don't know what I'm going to do. The oral surgeon was very thoughtful and called me at home this evening to make sure I was doing ok (I had a really bad infection under the extracted tooth, which is probably the main reason why he called me at home, but I'm sure he felt bad about the broken tooth too).

Has anyone had this happen? If so, what did you do?

Thanks,
Kimberlie

bergerbaby · 01-26-2008, 10:50 AM

well,it happened to me the other week ,when i had a tooth extracted ,the new crown i had only just replaced,(second time in fact)

he took big chunk out of the crown leaving the crown in half

by rights ,the dentist should replace it ,for free ,but i have so many problems with dentists at moment ,i cannot afford to make a fuss ,until i getr my other teeth sorted out ,then i may say about whats he going to do about the crown he has broke

obviously your oral surgeon rang you at home (which they dont normally do)
as he is concerned what he has done,i would if i was you ,dotn shout or anythign ,just calmly say ," is he prepared to pay for new crown to be put on the tooth he broke" see what he says ?

hopefully if he is a decent dentist he will put one on free of charge
as i cant see your own dentist doing it for free ,as he never broke it

good luck

Kimberlie · 01-26-2008, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the advice. I called my regular dentist (the one who referred me to this oral surgeon), and his office did acknowledge that the oral surgeon did call them about breaking my tooth during the extraction. I tried making an appointment to be seen (I already have an appointment for Feb. 12 to have a crown put on an upper back molar which lost a large filling prior to all of this), and I was told that if I come in before the 12th to have this new broken tooth looked at (the one the oral surgeon broke), they'll have to charge me an "emergency fee" which I can't afford right now (they'll charge me the fee even if my appointment is a week from now). So it looks like I have to wait until the 12th to have this newly broken tooth looked at (and it's not even my fault!). My husband says he thinks it's time to find a new dentist. My old dentist (in another state) never charged these "emergency fees", even if I came in the next morning.

The tooth that the oral surgeon broke started to hurt somewhat (I feel it each time the pain meds wear off between doses -- the pain meds I was given for the extraction). I'm hoping the tooth he broke doesn't need a root canal and a crown, but I'm scared. I'm already dealing with an infection underneath the extracted tooth site (which is why the endodontist I was referred to recommended the extraction -- my regular dentist referred me to him too). The infection was so bad that it deteriorated some of the bone in that area, and I was told I was lucky it didn't spread down my neck. I didn't feel it apparently because I'd already had a root canal done twice on that tooth. The tooth that is now broken didn't have anything wrong with it, other than an existing filling. The endodontist even checked it out when he looked at the infected tooth, and the tooth (that is now broken) was fine. It really ticks me off.

I do know the oral surgeon had me sign a release form before he did the extraction (I didn't get a copy), so I'm sure he had me sign away my rights in case a tooth did get damaged. He never mentioned one thing about covering the cost of the repair, so I'm guessing the bill will fall to me. Hopefully I'm wrong.

bergerbaby · 01-27-2008, 02:19 AM

i think thats disgusting ,you shouldnt get charged emergancy fee?

emergency fee is charged if you want a straight away appointment on that day ,also as the pain is caused by the dentist they should waive the fee too
read your copy of what you signed see ,what it says? what you could do ,is take them to a small claims court .get the money that way,but in mean time is there a dental hospital you could go to for emergancy treatment for free near you?

for now all i can suggest is to gargle warm salt water to keep infection away from the tooth and take nurofen pain killers until you get it sorted

well i hope you get it sorted out soon as pain isnt nice teeth pain is one of the nasty pain you can have

Kimberlie · 01-28-2008, 11:35 PM

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.

I called both the oral surgeon and my regular dentist today and made an appointment with each. The appointment with the surgeon is the follow-up he requested but that they forgot to schedule the day my tooth was pulled. I also requested a copy of the release form (they called it a consent form), and I'll get that when I go in for my follow-up appointment next Monday.

I also thought I'd give it another shot in calling my regular dentist, and this time I got a different receptionist. This one wanted to get me in immediately and gave me the only open appointment available for tomorrow. She couldn't tell me whether or not I would get charged an emergency fee, but she was very sympathetic to my situation. It was like a night and day difference between her and the first receptionist. Hard to believe they work for the same dentist.

Hopefully it won't be too bad, and the oral surgeon is willing to own up to the repair. The area near the broken tooth is still very tender (due to the extracted tooth), but from what I can see, the break in the tooth goes below the gumline. We'll see what happens, but I hope and pray for the best.

Kimberlie