Is endodontist liable?

Vma

I was referred from my NHS dentist for a root canal treatment to a private endodontist. I was told it would be £800 and the NHS dentist could crown it after. I went and had the procedure done but he was unable to finish it. The next appointment he had available was 42 days later.

Well the tooth seemed very fragile to me and on leaving his passing comment was “I would try not to eat on that side.”

Well sure enough the tooth fractured down to the gum about 26 days later and now it is a mess. It is a lower molar and the inner third is hanging on by a little flap of gum. The endodontist was unavailable, when I rang I was told he wouldn’t be in until my appointment still 20 days away and I should see my dentist.

I have an appointment this afternoon but my question is why didn’t the endodontist put some sort of temporary cap on to prevent this happening? I can’t believe he didn’t warn me more strenuously about the risk, that he couldn’t have me back sooner to finish and that he let me go without a cap to protect a very fragile tooth. And then he wasn’t available when it went wrong.

I don’t trust him and I don’t want him to finish the proceedure. Luckily I had only paid half. I am thinking I need to make a complaint and possibly get some of my money back and reimbursement for whatever will have to be done to fix my broken tooth.

Any experience or ideas of who to discuss this with would be very appreciated.

brook2jack

Unfortunately a tooth cracking during root canal treatment is a common occurence and a well known complication, temporary crowns or inlays do not provide any protection as they are made out of soft temporary material. Indeed on molar teeth it is a common reason for them to need root treatment in the first place and cracks can be difficult to see on xrays or in the mouth and often the first you know there is a problem is when the tooth breaks .

The first stage is to put your concerns , in writing, to the endodontists practice. If you are not happy with their reply then a free fast service for private dental treatment is https://dcs.gdc-uk.org/

Undervalued

brook2jack wrote: »

Unfortunately a tooth cracking during root canal treatment is a common occurence and a well known complication, temporary crowns or inlays do not provide any protection as they are made out of soft temporary material. Indeed on molar teeth it is a common reason for them to need root treatment in the first place and cracks can be difficult to see on xrays or in the mouth and often the first you know there is a problem is when the tooth breaks .

The first stage is to put your concerns , in writing, to the endodontists practice. If you are not happy with their reply then a free fast service for private dental treatment is https://dcs.gdc-uk.org/

That maybe so but did the endodontist adequately warn the patient of the risks?

This used to be the standard joke about "professionals".....

You still have to pay your solicitor if you lose your case and still pay your doctor if you die!