Root Canal and Crown Pain and Cost

[LindaLouS]

I had a root canal and crown over five years ago.  I am now experiencing enough pain to keep me awake even after taking more than the allowable dose of pain killer.  The dentist who did the work cannot see me for a week unless there is a cancellation.  Not all of us have dental insurance and this procedure was very expensive.  Is the dentist not accountable for what he does?  He told me the expense was worth it because I would have no more problems with this molar.  So what recourse do I have?  I know when I do finally get to see him, it is going to be an expensive visit.  I've read everything I can on root canal complications and it seems to me the dentist can perform inadequate work and get away with it at our expense.
Is this true?  I'm sorry but retired people on fixed incomes simply cannot afford dental procedures in the first place but when something goes wrong and the procedure doesn't work, first of all how can we prove it and who do we complain to?

[turkee23]

doing another root canal is up to you. 50 % isnt that much of a good number, but remember if you get the tooth out then you should consider getting a bridge or something in its place so the surrounding teeth dont start to move.

if the infection is not clearing call the dentist back for stronger meds cause they wont be able to do anything if the infection is still present.

the dentost should have never said that about not having any more problems with that crown ever cause its just not realistic.

[LindaLouS]

If the dentist had told me there was even a chance that in five years I'd be back in pain, I would have told him to pull the tooth and saved myself the nearly 2 thousand dollars.   His exact words were..."you won't have any more problems with that tooth if we do the root canal and top it off with a crown".  
I now know after my own research that he could never make that guarantee but what really bothers me is he knows I have no way of proving any negligience on his part.  I went to another dentist today who told me the xray shows infection all around the roots which could be caused from various reasons which is why (he said) you must be very careful about who you choose to do your root canal.
I spent about 150.00 today on the visit and pills.  I'm still experiencing enough pain to make me want to cry or maybe scream and scheduled to have the tooth removed monday morning at 9:30 am. He only works till 1 pm on Saturday. He did say to do the root canal again has about a 50% success rate.  Would you take that chance?
The antibiotics and pain killers don't seem to be doing anything at the moment.  
The dentist who did the half a** job couldn't give me an appointment until next Thursday.  He only now works three days a week.
dfc86 - I'm going to write a letter to the editor of our local newspaper in which the half a** dentist advertises in weekly and let others know he doesn't guarantee his work and not available for any emergency services resulting from his work.

[turkee23]

Well its been 5 years if his work wasn't good then unwould have had pain a lot sooner. Sometimes the bone around tooth can be lost and thing can get under the crown and cause pain at the gum line

Dental work is like anything else it needs to be maintained and replaced every so often

I don't think u can really complain to anyone, talk to the dentist and maybe he will give you a discount

[dfc86]

I am also having the same problem. I feel like my dentist should be accountable for my post root canal/crown pain I am having. I dont have dental insurance and it is killing me financially. I got my root canal done and mine was a little over a grand. The crown was about $600. Some dentists allow you to pay monthly. Good luck to you!