Dentist problem recent filling fell out ???

Dookdik17095

I have a filling in last tooth on bottom right hand side ,, the last one  was OK for 12  years ,  That was done in Dubai in 2012 when I was still working.

Im retired now   67  and have a private dentist  as there are no NHS dentists in my town .

The filling fell out in March  this year and the  dentist replaced it but its fell out again  2 weeks ago.

 I saw the dentist today  told her what has happened and she is taking no responsibility  for her work only lasting for 4 months and tells me I must pay another £245 if I want it repaired .

Surely there must be some warranty on such things ? , I have never had a filling fall out before .

35har1old

Dookdik17095 said:

I have a filling in last tooth on bottom right hand side ,, the last one  was OK for 12  years ,  That was done in Dubai in 2012 when I was still working.

Im retired now   67  and have a private dentist  as there are no NHS dentists in my town .

The filling fell out in March  this year and the  dentist replaced it but its fell out again  2 weeks ago.

 I saw the dentist today  told her what has happened and she is taking no responsibility  for her work only lasting for 4 months and tells me I must pay another £245 if I want it repaired .

Surely there must be some warranty on such things ? , I have never had a filling fall out before .

Must be some size of filling at that price more filling than tooth next stage extraction likely would be cheaper.

Emmia

35har1old said:

Dookdik17095 said:

I have a filling in last tooth on bottom right hand side ,, the last one  was OK for 12  years ,  That was done in Dubai in 2012 when I was still working.

Im retired now   67  and have a private dentist  as there are no NHS dentists in my town .

The filling fell out in March  this year and the  dentist replaced it but its fell out again  2 weeks ago.

 I saw the dentist today  told her what has happened and she is taking no responsibility  for her work only lasting for 4 months and tells me I must pay another £245 if I want it repaired .

Surely there must be some warranty on such things ? , I have never had a filling fall out before .

Must be some size of filling at that price more filling than tooth next stage extraction likely would be cheaper.

A small (cosmetic) filling (1mm x 1.5mm) on a front tooth was quoted to me at £350 privately a month ago. Thankfully I still have a NHS dentist so I got it done for band 2 £75ish. 

brook2jack2

Most dentists will guarantee their work for at least 12 months with a few caveats

the filling must be exactly the same as before ie no more bits broken off 
The dentist had not previously advised that a filling might not be ideal ie the tooth needs a crown 
no external trauma was involved ie you bit on something very hard or were hit in mouth 
it is the same dentist who does the work, not just another dentist who works in the same practice 
if you were advised to wear a gum shield because of grinding you complied with this 
you were advised it was a very large filling that might not stay in because of size 

Spoonie_Turtle

This isn't really going to be much comfort but I'm sharing so you know it's not a unique experience and not necessarily your dentist's fault:  a few years ago I had a filling fall out of one of my lower molars, it had lasted so long I actually can't remember when I had it originally done.  (But 10-15 years is the likely age of the original filling.)  My dentist warned me when refilling it that there was a chance it might not take … and he was right, it fell out just a few days later. 

I forget the specifics of what happened next because ultimately I now have a crown on it - after the first crown fell out, no less - a surprisingly troublesome tooth for one with no pain or infection!

I'm doubly fortunate to have access to NHS dentistry and be exempt from charges so I don't know what the costs would have been to be able to compare the number / timing of charges. 
(And I'm very grateful my dentist went to the trouble of saving the tooth despite it turning into an awkward little so-and-so, as I imagine there came a point when it would most likely have been quicker and cheaper to just extract it.)

Dookdik17095

90% of the tooth is fine and its not infected  or painful,, I dont want it removed , i want the filling fixed ,,

Undervalued

Dookdik17095 said:

90% of the tooth is fine and its not infected  or painful,, I dont want it removed , i want the filling fixed ,,

Have you challenged the dentist to say exactly why she won't "repair under warranty" unless, as far as you can tell, any of the caveats Brook2jack2 has described above apply? Brook is (as far as anyone can tell on an anonymous forum) an experienced private dentist.

Maybe either put your phone in your pocket on record before having the conversation, or do it in writing / email just in case you need to take the matter further! 

Dookdik17095

Ok spoke with Dentists this morning and  the partners in the group have  agreed  that filling  should be fixed FOC  as it should have lasted more than 4 months .

I  am booked in for tommorow morning  with one of the other dentists  to have it fixed ,   so problem resolved.

Toothsmith

Dookdik17095 said:

Ok spoke with Dentists this morning and  the partners in the group have  agreed  that filling  should be fixed FOC  as it should have lasted more than 4 months .

I  am booked in for tommorow morning  with one of the other dentists  to have it fixed ,   so problem resolved.

Glad it got sorted.

There are certain circumstances where a filling might not last very long - and not being privy to all the conversations and caveats and warnings a dentist may or may not have given you - it is a bit hard to do anything but stay on the fence when advising.

But a good general rule is to always go back to the practice to raise a concern if you feel something hasn't been dealt with fairly. A decent practice should have a decent complaints procedure and it should either get you what you want, or at the very least a much better explanation of why they feel they shouldn't replace it. 

welshdent

Personally, if work I had done, and expected to last - lasted 4 months. Id be sorting it out as best I could or refunding where I couldnt fix it. Unless, as brook said, I advised against the treatment or one of the other caveats. That said, I dont do work if I dont think its the right option.