I had a root canal done and can't afford the permanent crown. What am I to do?

kyojo · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2008, 02:22 PM

The temp has come off. The dentist will not allow me to make payments and they don't want to place the temp back on. What will happen to me if I don't get a crown put in place?

docgobbler · #2 (**permalink**) 11-20-2008, 04:35 PM

kyojo,
If you are in the USA then the doctor HAS to re-cement the temporary or you can sue for abandonment [of course, you will be charged each time this is done]. Unfortunately, once a dentist begins treatment he/she must follow through so that no damage will occur to the patient.
You need to explain that you are saving up and will get the crown as soon as you have the money. You need to get the permanent crown on ASAP to avoid deterioration of the gums and the possibility of cavities forming around the temporary.

onlymatch4u · #3 (**permalink**) 12-04-2008, 03:38 PM

You have to realize that these guys are about PROFIT, not health. I would suggest you go to a dental school and see if they can help. The only problem is that they promote bad dental techniques and materials to maximize dentist's profits. Make sure you tell them that you do NOT want gutta percha put in the canal and that you want them to sanitize the root with a dental laser, not the sanitizing solutions many use. Then to fill the canal with a good product like Endocal-10 that will fill the entire canal, not just part of it like gutta percha. Tell them that you do NOT want to get NICO that happens when using gutta percha and the santizing solutions. You do NOT want to have ANY amalgam used, like dentists have done under the crowns they put on and you definitely do NOT want gold crown put in. You want only ceramic and have it bonded.

Go to the local dental school and see if they will do all this for you. I wish you good luck and it's not easy to deal with people who have only PROFIT as their motivation for living.

good luck