Ohio Urgent Dental Care

This patient began his relationship with this office presenting with an existing (not made here) full upper denture that was broken in the midline Midline denture fractures are uncommon and usually indicative of either significant bone loss since the denture was made, or in this patient's instance, due to excessive parafunctional habits (i.e patient grinds their teeth heavily or wears them hours a day, which is contraindicated) Another common cause of midline denture fracture is mishandling the denture (i.e dropping it while cleaning the denture or the like) There is no way to determine whether this denture had ever been dropped, or how many times, since it was made.Specific to this patient is that he admitted to us at his last appointment here (6/17/15) that he wears his upper denture 24/7, which is strongly contraindicated (every patient of ours is instructed, at the denture delivery appointment, to remove their dentures at night, every night, and all night) Furthermore, if this patient only wore his upper full denture and not his lower partial denture, it will cause extra strain on the midline of his upper denture, especially at night In other words, he admitted to us that he doesn't take his upper denture out at all at night, and if he doesn't wear his lower partial in addition to his upper denture, any grinding of his remaining lower natural teeth well 'flex' the upper denture all night long, causing it to weaken down the midline (it is the equivalent to bending a paper clip back and forth until it breaks) Eventually the denture will break along this flexure line (the midline) it is a very common occurrence for people to clench their teeth, or grind them at night, and many people are unaware that they even do it This is one of the primary reasons we instruct people not to wear their dentures in their sleep.This old denture was repaired a couple of times for Mr [redacted] at this office before he agreed to a new denture(as will be stated below, his old denture, not made by us, was repaired at a cost that was below the cost we are charged by our lab to repair it We do this as a courtesy to our patients(we are preferred providers of multiple insurances, and as a result, we are confined to charge a specific fee for certain procedures--our lab cost is $65, but his insurance pays $57/58) But it is very telling that Mr [redacted] 's old denture was breaking in the same location as his new denture Despite my attempts to explain this to Mr [redacted] , he refused to accept that this was more than mere coincidence.A new denture was initiated at this office for the patient and before processing, Mr [redacted] he a chance to examine the denture, both in his mouth and outside, using a mirror and he verbally approved the denture When it was time to deliver the denture, Mr [redacted] did not like the denture and complained about how the teeth were set (yet he approved them at the previous appointment--nothing was changed) Denture teeth are often set at the same level, i.estraight across the front, and Mr [redacted] saw this arrangement, and approved of it, before we sent it for process, but when it returned for delivery, Mr [redacted] stated that he didn't like it and wanted it changed so the teeth were set at different levels As a courtesy to Mr [redacted] , the dentures were started all over at no charge to him, but this office incurred the lab costs of remaking the denture.The new denture in question was delivered to the patient on 4/11/11.The patient presented to the office on 8/27/and had broken his denture down the midline We repaired his denture and charged his insurance company $ Our lab cost to repair the denture was $ Contrary to the patient's statement, he did not ask us at this appointment to make him a new denture Furthermore, it would ludicrous for any dental office to offer to make a new denture any time one of their patient's broke, or damaged a denture, but this is indicative of this patient's line of thinking throughout his care here He fully expects the dental office to be 100% responsible for anything that happens to his denture, despite his admission of wearing the denture improperly.The denture was repaired again on 11/25/13., again at a cost to his insurance company that was below our cost to repair the denture.The denture was repaired a 3rd time on 12/22/14, but this time the damage was more extensive, so a 'metal reinforcement' was placed to try to correct the damage Again, despite the patient's claims, the denture broken in different locations each time, not in the same place, again indicating that excessive strain was placed on the denture.When the patient presented to our office in June 2015, for a 4th repair to his denture, and realizing that the denture was breaking in different locations, I spent a considerable amount of time with the patient, explaining more in depth explanations for this repeated occurrenceI explained to the patient that in over years of practicing dentistry, only one other patient had repeatedly broken a denture that I had made for them, and that this situation was extremely unusual When I began to question the patient as to his wearing habits , it was finally at this appointment that he admitted to wearing his denture 24/and not wearing his lower partial at night Politely, I explained to him that this was likely the cause of the fracture, not as a result of improper fabrication.I offered to repair the denture at no charge, but informed the patient that he needed to have it relined after years of bone loss, and informed him again that he will have to remove his denture at night as he is putting undo strain on the denture.The denture was sent out and returned to the patient at no charge, as promised Logically, after repairs, the denture is going to have a diminished esthetic appearance.This patient's decision to wear his upper denture at all times, and not in conjunction with his lower partial is the primary reason for the cause of failure Naturally, any denture that is repeatedly repaired is going to weaken and deteriorate esthetically.Because of the patient's refusal to wear his dentures as directed (take them out at night), and given the year duration since his dentures were made, I cannot accept financial responsibility for problems that have occurred because he chose to wear his dentures in a manner that is contraindicated It is very unfortunate that his dentures have broken, and repeatedly, but he must understand that wearing them all night long is what is likely causing the fractures

This patient began his relationship with this office presenting with an existing (not made here) full upper denture that was broken in the midline.    Midline denture fractures are uncommon and usually indicative of either significant bone loss since the denture was made, or in this...

patient's instance, due to excessive parafunctional habits (i.e patient grinds their teeth heavily or wears them 24 hours a day, which is contraindicated).  Another common cause of midline denture fracture is mishandling the denture (i.e dropping it while cleaning the denture or the like).  There is no way to determine whether this denture had ever been dropped, or how many times,  since it was made.Specific to this patient is that he admitted to us at his last appointment here (6/17/15) that he wears his upper denture 24/7, which is strongly contraindicated (every patient of ours is instructed, at the denture delivery appointment, to remove their dentures at night, every night, and all night).  Furthermore, if this patient only wore his upper full denture and not his lower partial denture, it will cause extra strain on the midline of his upper denture, especially at night.  In other words, he admitted to us that he doesn't take his upper denture out at all at night, and if he doesn't wear his lower partial in addition to his upper denture, any grinding of his remaining lower natural teeth well 'flex' the upper denture all night long, causing it to weaken down the midline.  (it is the equivalent to bending a paper clip back and forth until it breaks).   Eventually the denture will break along this flexure line (the midline).  it is a very common occurrence for people to clench their teeth, or grind them at night, and many people are unaware that they even do it.  This is one of the primary reasons we instruct people not to wear their dentures in their sleep.This old denture was repaired a couple of times for Mr. [redacted] at this office before he agreed to a new denture. (as will be stated below, his old denture, not made by us, was repaired at a cost that was below the cost we are charged by our lab to repair it.  We do this as a courtesy to our patients. (we are preferred providers of multiple insurances, and as a result, we are confined to charge a specific fee for certain procedures--our lab cost is $65, but his insurance pays $57/58).   But it is very telling that Mr. [redacted]'s old denture was breaking in the same location as his new denture.  Despite my attempts to explain this to Mr. [redacted], he refused to accept that this was more than mere coincidence.A new denture was initiated at this office for the patient and before processing, Mr. [redacted]  he a chance to examine the denture, both in his mouth and outside, using a mirror and  he verbally approved the denture.  When it was time to deliver the denture, Mr. [redacted] did not like the denture and complained about how the teeth were set (yet he approved them at the previous appointment--nothing was changed).  Denture teeth are often set at the same level, i.e. straight across the front, and Mr. [redacted] saw this arrangement, and approved of it, before we sent it for process, but when it returned for delivery, Mr. [redacted] stated that he didn't like it and wanted it changed so the teeth were set at different levels.  As a courtesy to Mr. [redacted], the dentures were started all over at no charge to him, but this office incurred the lab costs of remaking the denture.The  new denture in question was delivered to the patient on 4/11/11.The patient presented to the office on 8/27/12 and had broken his denture down the midline.  We repaired his denture and charged his insurance company $57.00.  Our lab cost to repair the denture was $65.00.  Contrary to the patient's statement, he did not ask us at this appointment to make him a new denture.  Furthermore, it would ludicrous for any dental office to offer to make a new denture any time one of their patient's broke, or damaged a denture, but this is indicative of this patient's line of thinking throughout his care here.  He fully expects the dental office to be 100% responsible for anything that happens to his denture, despite his admission of wearing the denture improperly.The denture was repaired again on 11/25/13., again at a cost to his insurance company that was below our cost to repair the denture.The denture was repaired a 3rd time on 12/22/14, but this time the damage was more extensive, so a 'metal reinforcement' was placed to try to correct the damage.  Again, despite the patient's claims, the denture broken in different locations each time, not in the same place, again indicating that excessive strain was placed on the denture.When the patient presented to our office in June 2015, for a 4th repair to his denture, and realizing that the denture was breaking in different locations, I spent a considerable amount of time with the patient, explaining more in depth explanations for this repeated occurrence. I explained to the patient that in over 27 years of practicing dentistry, only one other patient had repeatedly broken a denture that I had made for them, and that this situation was extremely unusual.   When I began to question the patient as to his wearing habits , it was finally at this appointment that he admitted to wearing his denture 24/7 and not wearing his lower partial at night.  Politely, I explained to him that this was likely the cause of the fracture, not as a result of improper fabrication.I offered to repair the denture at no charge, but informed the patient that he needed to have it relined after 4 years of bone loss, and informed him again that he will have to remove his denture at night as he is putting undo strain on the denture.The denture was sent out and returned to the patient at no charge, as promised.   Logically, after 4 repairs, the denture is going to have a diminished esthetic appearance.This patient's decision to wear his upper denture at all times, and not in conjunction with his lower partial is the primary reason for the cause of failure.  Naturally, any denture that is repeatedly repaired is going to weaken and deteriorate esthetically.Because of the patient's refusal to wear his dentures as directed (take them out at night), and given the 4 year duration since his dentures were made,  I cannot accept financial responsibility for problems that have occurred because he chose to wear his dentures in a manner that is contraindicated.   It is very unfortunate that his dentures have broken, and repeatedly, but he must understand that wearing them all night long is what is likely causing the fractures.