Teeth prepared for Crowns incorrectly

[Liza127]

I have 2 questions. First: My dentist grinded my 2 teeth to put a crown on it December 17, 2005. And left them open without any temporary crowns. Then January 21, 2006 she removed 2 nearby crowns, that she made 2 month before, but porcelain was cracked on them. So she decided to make new 4 separate crowns on molars. Same day she placed 1 big temporary crown on these 4 neighboring teeth. Next visit was January 28, 2006 she made final impression, and then placed temporary crown back. But this temporary crown falls off same day. Next visit was February 11, 2006. She checked metal impression (no porcelain yet), and placed the same temporary crown back. It fall off in 2 days. Today I visited another doctor and he said that teeth underneath the temporary crown became weak and there is decay now, and one prepared tooth has a hole in it. And he thinks that under no circumstances I should agree to put those prepared crowns (which are ready by now) on my teeth. It needs to remove decay and make new crowns. What should I do? Go to another doctor? If it will be another doctor making new crowns - will the previous doctor return money for those crowns to insurance company and to me?
Second question is: I have pain in another molar (night pain, temperature, pressure sensitive, trifacial irradiate) related to root channel. New doctor insist on taking antibiotics, without those pills he refuses to treat root channel. I do not want to take pills, since I have liver problems (I had hepatitis) and duodenal ulcer. Is it possible to open this tooth in pain and kill the nerve without taking pills

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I think if you are unsure of the dentists diagnosis then there is nothing wrong in getting another opinion. I do not know whether the insurance company will pay or not pay for the work if it has to be redone. I would notify them of the circumstances that you have explained to me. As far as you taking the antibiotics, I think the dentist and your MD should communicate what they think is best for you.

[mike1105]

response to q 1. temporary crowns are usually made in one piece if the teeth involved are next to each other. i see nothing wrong with making what you percieve to be one temporary on four teeth. however,it should be contoured so it is shaped like four separate teeth, and especially since it is one piece, it should not come off so easily. the longer the temporary, the better it should stay on.  despite it coming off, decay should not really settle in that quickly. i cannot evaluate things on the internet, but it sounds like there are problems with the 4 teeth. I certainly would not allow the first dentist to cement the crowns, especially since the first two failed quickly and a second dentist called into question the work being done and the current status of the prepared teeth. if i were you, i'd get a third opinion, preferably from a dental school or a dentist you are refferred to by a close friend or family member. regarding q2: if i know a tooth is infected, i would want my patient on antibiotics. the status of this tooth should also be evaluated by the school, or a 3rd dentist.  dentists are supposed to bill insurance companies when crowns are cemented. so the dentist should not yet have billed for the 2 new crowns, and should return the money to the insurance company for the 2 "old" crowns that broke, since they faile, if you elect not to continue treqatment there.. if the dentist is reluctant to do so, and you choose not to continue there, you can inform your insurance carrier of the circumstances and they will go after the dentist for the $.