Decision Report 201803462

Summary

Mr C complained about a dentist's failed attempts to restore his broken tooth with a white composite filling. The filling fell out a week later and was replaced but unfortunately it failed again and fell out two days later. The option of fitting a crown was discussed but Mr C did not consider that he should have to contribute to the cost of this. He subsequently changed dentist and requested that the cost of subsequent treatment under the new dentist was reimbursed. We took independent advice from a dentist. We found that the treatment provided in attempting to restore Mr C's broken tooth was reasonable and in line with standard clinical practice. The dentist had no obligation to contribute to the cost of any treatment Mr C received from his new dentist. Therefore, we did not uphold the complaint.

Mr C also complained about concurrent root canal treatment he was undergoing on a different tooth. This was carried out over several visits and, at the second visit, the dentist temporarily restored the tooth and booked Mr C a further appointment. However, Mr C reported that the tooth broke around four hours later when he was eating soft food. We found that the treatment provided was reasonable and in line with normal clinical practice. There was no evidence to support Mr C's concerns that failings in his treatment contributed to the tooth breaking a few hours later, and did not consider that the quality of this treatment should be associated with the subsequent extraction of the tooth by the new dentist. We did not uphold the complaint.