Expert: Rafael Mosery,D.D.S. - 7/13/2006

Question
Dear Dr. Mosery,

I had tooth cleaning in April, 2006. My dentist told me I had three cavities and filled all of them in April. Ever since then, I had big trouble with #3 molar. I had to go back twice to redo the filling but still could not use that part of my mouth to chew food. Now my dentist add a crown to that tooth and he wanted me to pay half of them. My question is:
1. Is my situation normal? Or should I change my dentist as soon as possible?
2. Should I pay for the crown? I didn't had any problem before I got that tooth filling. Just found out today that the cavity on #3 molar was even hardly seen on the x-ray. Is it reasonable to suspect that my dentist might damage my tooth nerve while he did the filling?

Your advice is deeply appreciated.

Haiyan  

Answer
If it was a large cavity normally I would advise pt before we even do the fillng that -we'll try to place a large restoration but if it fails it will need the crown. I would tell pt this before I even touch them. It's hard to say what went on with you and your dentist without before and after films and a clinical exam.If it fails with a year i
i would credit the restoration fee towards the crown.They would pay full fee of crown minus the fee of the restoration done earlier
Good Luck,
Dr.Rafael Mosery