dental question

Two years ago while under a different dental plan my wife's 3 tooth bridge came off. The bridge was about 10 years old and included one front tooth. The dentist she went to told us that  one of the teeth that supported the bridge had decayed into the root and had to come out. As a result the a new bridge of 4 teeth was needed. I had fairly good insurance, but a $7.00 an hour job and no savings. Our share was going to be $1000.00, and the dentist would accept payments of $100.00 a month for a year to pay for it. With help I made all the payments.          At Christmas time 2008 the bridge came off. The 2 teeth supporting it appeared discolored as with decay. The dentist (same dentist) told my wife that a new bridge of 5 teeth needed to be made and he would get a pre determination from my insurance and we should b aware that because he didn't know at the time the 4 tooth bridge was made that she gritted her teeth and we will have to pay for 2 teeth. To our knowledge she had never gritted her teeth until he worked on her. With my wife in the chair watching, he broke off the front tooth and then he reinstalled. This was very hard for my wife as to her she was now "snaggle tooth".   After more than a month, no call. So, I called. He was on vacation and the way it was worded I should expect to pay fas the OLD bridge was 2 years old. I made an appointment for her, but am very concerned from what I have seen, the dentist is a bully. I am affraid that he is going to tell us that we have to pay up front or he won't fix the old one. We can't afford a 5 tooth bridge. My wife (is 62) and I (am 66) are social security. My insurance is becaise I have a part time job with the post office.  The U.S. Postal Service is cutting hours and layoffs for part-timers is a good possibility. Do we have any options?  

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

If you aren't comfortable with your dentist at this point, it may be a good idea to express your concern with him and discuss the situation.  If you can't resolve the issue, it may be time to move on to a new dentist that you are comfortable with.  If you are concerned about finances, you can contact your local dental society and see if there are any dentists in your local area that may do more affordable or free dental care.  Checking a local dental school is also a possibility as they are more affordable but because they are students, the work would take more time.

[soumifin]

We are not in an area where there is a dental society or dental school within a hundred miles.
Am I right in thinking that from your response, you think it might be OK that the bridge came off and that we should have to pay for one larger.

This is why I asked if we have we have any options. Is there no standard? Shouldn't the work have some kind of implied warranty that we won't have to go through this again anytime soon?  I have 7 crowns and a pontic that replaced my front 8 teeth. These were put there 27 years ago. I don't expect that kind of performance from my wife's bridge, but 2 years???

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

That's a difficult question to answer because I'm not able to evaluate the mouth and see what's going on.  I would say that for financial discussions and warranties of dental work, its always going to be a case by case basis and that you should discuss this with your dentist.  If you aren't satisfied with the situation, you can always bring it up with your state dental board for a resolution of a dispute or a professional board review committee.