Patient Warranties

1. When a tooth has a cavity, the dentist removes the decay and fills the hole with a composite filling, which is ideally no more than 50% of the tooth. The tooth is what supports the filling.

If the filling breaks, we will replace or repair it for a period of up to 2 years.

2. Sometimes we place a composite filling, thinking there is enough tooth to hold the filling when there is not. The tooth then starts to break away because the tooth can no longer support the filling. In this case, the tooth would require a crown, and we will credit the cost of the filling towards the cost of a crown and build-up.

3. This warranty will be null and void if the patient does not maintain his/her 6-month continuing care cleaning appointments.

With composite fillings, sensitivity is usually present, but if it is, it usually lasts a short time. However, 10% of all fillings will need a root canal at some time in the future. Because decay is soft and acts like insulation, your tooth might have been comfortable the day before the filling, but you may still need a root canal if the sensitivity persists longer than usual. If your tooth needs a root canal within 12 months of the time the filling was placed, we will credit the cost of the filling towards a post, core build-up, and crown.

1. Sealants are plastic coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to prevent decay in the chewing surfaces and grooves of the teeth. We will repair or replace sealant for a period of three (3) years after the original date of placement.

2. This warranty is null and void if the patient does not maintain his/her 6-month continuing care cleaning appointments.

1. When a tooth has a cavity or a pre-existing failing restoration that takes up to 60% or more of the tooth, a crown is indicated. The dentist will remove the decay and /or failing restoration and fill the hole with a build-up composite material. The dentist will then prepare the tooth and the build-up for the proper contour, which will support the crown.

2. For five (5) years from the date of service, we will refund the cost of a crown or bridge due to breakage, misfit, or decay at no cost to the patient. This does not include crowns or bridges where decay has reoccurred due to poor oral hygiene or diet, or when the crown/bridge is damaged due to accidents or abuse, which could also break normal, healthy teeth.*

3. This warranty is null and void if the patient does not maintain his/her 6-month continuing care cleaning appointments.

* Porcelain crowns or bridges can chip and break. The gold crown will not chip or break. Approximately one (1) out of every 100 porcelain crowns chips and needs replacement. If there are signs of occlusal disease- considerable wear on the teeth- the porcelain crowns will be subjected to unhealthy forces and will break under these conditions, and the warranty will be null and void. Under such circumstances, a nightguard will be needed

Under normal conditions, if your porcelain crown chips in the first five (5) years, we will repair it or replace it at no charge. However, if it chips after the 5 years, you will be charged the regular fee for a new crown.

This should be taken into consideration when choosing between a porcelain or a gold crown.

We will warranty partials and dentures for two (2) years. We will make repairs if a tooth chips or breaks, or if a flange breaks under normal use. This warranty does not cover accidents such as dropping the partial or denture. Full upper and lower dentures must be seen at least every 12 months for this warranty to be valid.

Do root canals always work? No! A root canal is a therapy, not a cure. Though the chances of failure are small – 4% failure rate- they do exist, especially if a tooth is left unprotected after root canal therapy is completed. If your root canal therapy, complete with a protective restoration, fails within 3 years, we will evaluate whether re-treatment is necessary and by whom. If we retreat the tooth, we will do so at no charge or provide credit for the original fee to an endodontist who performs the re-treatment procedure. In addition, if the tooth cannot be saved, the cost of the crown and buildup placed in our office will be credited toward replacing that tooth during the 3-year period. There are rare instances when we will inform the patient that we cannot provide a warranty on a tooth with a poor prognosis.

Do implants always work? No! Implants have a very high success rate, but their success is predicated on a host of conditions, such as quality of bone, location of the implant, biting forces on the implant, the immune system of the body, amount of surrounding bone, home care of the patient, etc. Implants may require additional treatment once placed in the mouth due to compromising situations and such treatment is not covered under this warranty. However, if implants placed in our office fail within a 5-year period of time, we will replace the implant, or the placement fee will be credited toward alternative therapy in our office.