Dental crown replacement?

I went to a new dentist today, and was disappointed. I knew I needed a root canal and crown on 1 tooth and several small fillings. The dentist was pleased that my insurance doesn't have an annual maximum payment, but pointed out that my co-pays were high. He gave me a list of nearly $4000 in repairs, and told me I could save 5% if I paid the total right now! I have moved a lot, and had many dentists, none so eager to collect payment on work not yet performed. I declined and said I would pay 1 tooth at a time. I paid a $775.00 copay for a root canal and crown to be started today. I have 5 other crowns done by 4 different dentists. My new dentist said all 5 have open contacts and all 5 need to be replaced. He said i should contact my old dentists for refunds. (the most recent was 2 years ago, so I'm sure i won't get a refund) I feel like I definitely need a second opinion, and he is trying to rip me off. Am I right? I'm also concerned about how permanent crowns can be removed. Thanks.

Dental crown replacement?
Hi, I'm a dentist.





If crowns have open contacts, this presents a super highway for bacteria to invade and create decay underneath the crown, so I agree crowns with open contacts should be replaced (they should never be cemented to begin with).





It sounds like you have a great deal of work that needs to be completed, and if it includes 5 crowns, a root canal and fillings, I'd say that 4 grand is probably pretty inexpensive, as 5 crowns alone can cost over 4 grand, at least they would if I were doing them.





It never hurts to obtain a second opinion, but I'll offer you a friendly bit of advice. You may want to find one dentist you are very comfortable with and stick with him/her. Shopping around for the dentist offering the lowest fees is fine, but keep in mind you often get what you pay for, which may explain the open contacts in the crowns you had done in the past.





Good luck.
Reply:First of all, he was trying to cut you a break by paying all up front, but that is your choice. Second, I do not think he is ripping you off or he would have never told you to go back to your old dentist. He would have told you that you needed the work and left it at that. The old dentist is the one who needs to correct the situation and make it right or give you a refund since he does shoddy work. The new dentist was just doing his job and by sending you back to the old dentist, sounds like he was trying to help get you some well deserved money back. Thirdly, it is your choice also to get another opinion, but I would get two more because if another dentist disagrees, he could be another bad dentist and just leave the shoddy work in your mouth to rot. The open contacts were a result of the dentist not doing the crown correctly from the start. It is nothing you did. If you let it let go, you will eventually get decay under the crowns and you will have bigger problems. The perm crowns are cut with a high speed drill using a diamond cut bur.
Reply:Check the contacts your self. Try dental floss on both sides %26amp; shoud be resisitsnce. Most dentist are honest but as in every thing there a few bad eggs. I have sent crowns back to lab many times because of contacts. There are rare exceptions where contacts are not needed!! Doc W