Call Kurtis: Did Your Dentist Make a Mistake? Here’s What You Can Do « CBS Sacramento
A Sacramento viewer says his dentist messed up on his root canal and doesn’t think he should have to pay for the mistake. When he couldn’t get it fixed, he decided it was time to call Kurtis.
It’s been nearly two years of pain and dental bleeding for Thomas Coker of Sacramento, he said.
“This is my mouth, and I have to get it fixed,” he said.
His dentist, Dr. Tam Hgoc Nguyen of Roseville’s Healthy Image Dental, made a mistake ruining his tooth during a root canal, he said.
“I have a problem kissing my wife. I’m scared to death that — I’m trying not to get emotional,” Coker said, collecting his thoughts. “I’m scared to death that she might smell some blood on my breath or something.”
“It’s not very good for me,” he added.
But instead of repairing the problem, he said Healthy Image refused to see him again because he wouldn’t pay for the initial root canal.
“Why should I pay for something that they caused?” he said. “They need to fix it.”
Dr. Nguyen, and about 70 percent of California dentists, belong to the California Dental Assocation.
If dental patients suspect their dentist made a mistake, the trade organization has a peer review program.
“We’d rather try to handle it outside of the court system,” said Dr. Adrian Carrington, former chair of the Sacramento District Dental Society — a division of the CDA.
[yes, I bet that had much rather do that… Geez]
If a customer complains about one of the CDA’s members, three independent dentists will examine the case in peer review.
The CDA says about half the time it rules in the patient’s favor, forcing the dentist to give a refund or cover the treatment needed.“As a member of CDA, part of your membership is you abide by those rules,” Carrington said.
Thomas chose to complain to the state agency that oversees dentists — the Dental Board of California — which has the power to punish dentists.
An investigation with the Dental Board could take as long as 18 months, however.
[More like an eternity, if ever!]
After CBS13 got involved, Healthy Image and Coker are close to a resolution. Thomas said he can’t wait much longer.
[I’m thinking the news media and the public get the job done, better and faster]
