Is there a guarantee for removable dentures: terms, types and tips?

Standard periods during which the warranty is valid

The answer to the question of whether there is a guarantee for removable dentures at all is clearly positive. According to the law of the Russian Federation, it is assumed that any dentistry must give its patients confidence: the product will not fail in the near future after installation, and the work is done with high quality. And undertake to correct easily remediable as well as significant deficiencies in the activities of their specialists if they are identified within the warranty period.

And the best confirmation of this fact is the warranty. According to them, if the design breaks down, is found to be defective, or was originally installed incorrectly, then the clinic will correct it, repair it, or replace it with a new one (of equal value, made of the same material) free of charge. And in some cases, they will even be required to return the money spent by the patient on treatment and reimburse expenses incurred [1] to eliminate the shortcomings of the work done by third parties.

Important ! Most clinics do not provide a guarantee for temporary removable and fixed dentures, which are supported by natural teeth. After all, such products are installed at one of the stages of treatment and must be replaced as soon as possible. As for permanent dentures, all of them: a single crown, an inlay, partial, complete removable and fixed products for replacing all teeth in a row, as well as a bridge prosthesis in dentistry must have a guarantee.

What to expect if you have installed removable products? As a standard, most clinics provide a warranty period for prostheses for a period of 1-2 years. If we are talking about fixed devices, then this is 2 years. Less common are cases where dentistry gives an increased guarantee of 5 years or even indefinitely, and even with free service. But usually such conditions can be met with expensive treatment. For example, complex dental implantation in 1 day with the installation of permanent structures. Or veneers and lumineers.

Expert opinion
Yurkevich Vadim Igorevich
Specializations: Orthopedic dentist

Experience: 16+

“The guarantee can be established by a doctor on an individual basis if the patient initially has a history of diseases such as bruxism, diabetes mellitus or oncology, periodontal disease. Or if there are specific features of professional activity (sports, work in hazardous chemical production). In these cases, it is not always possible to predict a long-term successful result of treatment and prosthetics.”

Guarantee for certain types of services.

2.1 Warranty obligations for therapeutic treatment.

Therapeutic treatment includes treatment of diseases: caries, pulpitis and periodontitis (the last two are associated with root canal treatment), cosmetic dentistry (restoration or change of the original shape and color of a tooth without prosthetics, replacement/adjustment of fillings), preparation (treatment) of teeth for prosthetics. The guarantee begins to apply from the moment the treatment of a particular tooth is completed. Signs of the end of treatment are: • in the treatment of caries - a permanent filling has been placed. • in the treatment of complications of caries (pulpitis and periodontitis) - a permanent filling and permanent filling of the root canals.

The standard warranty period is 6 months.

The guarantee applies to: • treatment of enamel caries and dentin caries. • for the treatment of pulpitis

LLC “Center for Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery” guarantees you that: • the filling supplied to you will not break or fall out. It is possible to change the color by 1 tone (toward lightening or darkening). • when treating caries, tooth decay will stop, secondary caries (black stripe around the filling) will not occur. • during the treatment of pulpitis, if complete patency of the root canals of the tooth is possible, you will have permanent filling of the root canals with gutta-percha to the physiological apex. • we guarantee the correct choice of treatment method and the correct initial diagnosis.

Reduced warranty. Combined warranty. Disclaimer of warranty. Due to the difficulty of clearly predicting the outcome of treatment, it is possible to provide a reduced guarantee in the following cases: • for the treatment of a tooth that has direct indications for further prosthetics (restoration with a ceramic inlay (destruction of 40 to 60% of the volume of the tooth crown) or covering with an orthopedic crown (destruction of more than 60%) - the warranty is provided for a period of one month. Destruction of the tooth crown (partial or complete destruction of the filling, tooth, loss of the filling) is redone free of charge during the warranty period. • in case of repeated root canal treatment (endodontic treatment) and the impossibility of root canal patency for reasons: severe curvature, impossibility of complete unsealing, partial possibility of passage (it is not possible to pass part of the canal to the required length) - the warranty is provided for a period of one month. For the seal, the warranty can be provided in full (i.e. for 12 months). • Removal of hidden debris instrument, closing the perforation of the root canal wall during treatment in another medical institution - the guarantee is provided for a period of one month. The seal can be guaranteed in full (i.e. for 6 months). • The patient makes significant adjustments to the treatment plan or does not agree with the treatment plan proposed by the doctor. The fact that the warranty period has been reduced must be noted in the outpatient card before the start of treatment.

If there are limiting conditions for providing a full guarantee for 6 months, it is possible to provide a combined guarantee: separately for root canal treatment, separately for the supplied filling.

The guarantee does not apply to: • treatment of deep caries (the tooth may need to be depulped) • treatment of chronic periodontitis (additional procedures may be required to relieve root inflammation) • any retreatment of teeth (under the filling there may well be a large carious cavity, fracture or some kind of then another problem, then either more complex treatment or tooth extraction will be required). The fact that the warranty period has been reduced must be noted in the outpatient card before the start of treatment.

2.2 Warranty obligations for prosthetics

(orthopedic work).

There are permanent non-removable, permanent removable and temporary structures:

The standard warranty period for permanent fixed structures is 12 months. Permanent fixed orthopedic work includes: • Metal, metal-ceramic, metal-free crowns (on a zirconium oxide or pressed ceramic frame), including those on implants. • Bridge structures: metal, metal-ceramic.

The warranty period for permanent removable structures is 4 months. Permanent removable orthopedic work includes: • Complete and partially removable laminar dentures, clasp dentures (including those on implants).

Temporary orthopedic work is guaranteed until they are replaced with permanent structures, but not more than two weeks, with the exception of long-term temporary structures made by laboratory methods. For temporary long-term structures, the warranty period is 3 months. Temporary orthopedic work includes: • Temporary crowns • Temporary replacement prostheses

The guarantee for orthopedic work begins to apply from the moment the work is fixed in the oral cavity. The guarantee for temporary orthopedic work also begins to apply from the moment the temporary structures are installed in the patient’s mouth. A guarantee is provided for orthopedic work. The guarantee for preparation for prosthetics (therapeutic treatment) is defined in section 2.1 “Warranty obligations for therapeutic treatment”.

Please note that temporary orthopedic structures must be replaced with permanent ones. The recommended period of wearing temporary structures is determined by the dentist.

A guarantee for permanent orthopedic work is provided for the following items: • Destruction of the structure or de-cementing of a permanent fixed structure. • Loss of artificial teeth from dentures, fracture of the plastic of the denture, destruction of micro-locks (attachments) and micro-hooks (clasps). • Destruction of temporary structures and their decementing.

Possible cases of reduced warranty

Existing medical methods of prosthetics do not allow for a full warranty period (6 months) in the presence of the following diagnoses or cases: • The presence of tooth mobility. The warranty period is determined by the doctor. • Having a diagnosis of gum disease: periodontitis, periodontal disease. The warranty period is determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the gum disease. • Therapeutic training was not carried out at the Center for Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery LLC. • The patient makes significant adjustments to the treatment plan or does not agree with the treatment plan proposed by the doctor. The fact that the warranty period has been reduced must be noted in the outpatient card before the start of treatment.

In the absence of clear medical indications for performing certain types of prosthetics and the patient’s desire to perform the work according to a certain scheme, the dentist has the right to establish a warranty period for the orthopedic structure of 1 month, having previously notified the patient about this.

2.3 Warranty obligations for surgical treatment.

After surgery, the dental clinic ensures that: • the extraction is complete (i.e. there are no residual teeth particles). In surgical dentistry, the result of treatment depends not only on the skill of the doctor, but also on the health status of the patient. LLC Center for Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery guarantees the correctness of the procedures performed and their compliance with Russian and international standards, but it is completely impossible to predict how and with what sensations healing will occur after surgery.

Possible cases of reduced warranty

• The patient makes significant adjustments to the treatment plan or does not agree with the treatment plan proposed by the doctor. The fact that the warranty period has been reduced must be noted in the outpatient card before the start of treatment.

If any symptoms of deterioration in health appear after surgery, you should immediately contact a doctor or medical receptionist at the dental center.

2.4 Warranty obligations for periodontal treatment.

LLC “Center for Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery” guarantees you that during professional hygiene, all supragingival dental plaque (hard and soft) will be removed, and the teeth will acquire a natural color. Please note that after professional hygiene, gum swelling may decrease, which leads to exposure of subgingival deposits. In this case, a corrective procedure may be required, paid for by the patient. Periodontal treatment (treatment of gum disease) is aimed at eliminating or stopping the disease. Each case depends on many factors (general condition of the body; taking certain medications; nutrition; oral hygiene - frequency of brushing teeth; strictly following the recommendations of the attending physician).

Guarantee for all resective techniques: open curettage, flap surgery, frenuloplasty and vestibuloplasty - 3 months.

Possible cases of reduced warranty

If any symptoms of deterioration in health appear after surgery, you should immediately contact a doctor or medical receptionist at the dental center.

2.5 Warranty obligations for implantological treatment.

The guarantee applies to: • all bone grafting operations. If you have undergone bone grafting surgery, you will have an implant installed in the area of the reconstructed bone. • during dental implantation surgery. If you have an implant installed, it must be completely integrated and in the desired position. • the standard warranty period for an installed implant is 2.5 years. • the standard warranty period for orthopedic work using implants is 6 months.

Possible cases of reduced warranty

The guarantee does not apply to: • soft tissue plastic surgery, since these interventions are highly dependent on the general health of the body and the patient's lifestyle, as well as on the patient's compliance with the recommendations of the attending physician. The fact that the warranty period has been reduced must be noted in the outpatient card before the start of treatment.

If any symptoms of deterioration in health appear after surgery, you should immediately contact a doctor or medical receptionist at the dental center.

Types of defects that the clinic must eliminate free of charge

If the work of dentists was performed with violations, then after a detailed examination they are classified into simple deficiencies and significant deficiencies. The first include minor and easily removable errors. For example, deformation of the anatomical shape of the dentures, recurrence of caries under the structure, poor marginal fit of the product, change in its color, breaking off hooks and clasps on a partial removable structure, inaccurate positioning, loss of inlays and veneers. Doctors undertake to correct such deficiencies within the time frame established by the guarantee.

A significant disadvantage is considered to be work that does not allow the patient to benefit from the results of treatment for its intended purpose. Or a very serious medical error that cannot be corrected and requires large expenses to eliminate. If such problems are discovered, the patient has the right to make demands for their elimination, even if the warranty period has expired, but only within the service life of the product - usually the period is about 10 years.

Important ! The current legislation of the Russian Federation obliges dental clinics to correct all deficiencies within the established warranty periods, and significant deficiencies - within the established service life of the prostheses.

Warranty and service life are not the same thing

Having heard about the very modest warranty period for dentures, which is only 1-2 years, many patients begin to panic. So what happens: in 2 years, or even earlier, expensive structures will have to be replaced? But no. Also, any orthopedic products have a certain service life, determined by the quality and characteristics of the materials used for manufacturing. It begins to operate from the day the structure is manufactured and is usually several times higher than the warranty itself.

You can always just ask your doctor for clarification about the service life

For example, fixed prostheses made of metal-ceramics and ceramics will last about 10 years, zirconium dioxide and ceramic composite – from 15 years and longer. But if you put plastic dentures on your teeth, you will have to change them within 1-2 years after installation, or more precisely, from the day the structure is handed over to the patient.

Removable products have a relatively short service life: clasp structures will last 7-8 years, acrylic ones and those made from new generation materials - about 5 years, nylon ones - 2-3 years. During the entire service life of the products, determined by dentistry, the clinic is responsible for significant deficiencies that arose due to the fault of doctors.

Important ! In all cases, much depends on the quality and condition of the supporting tissues (gums, teeth). If they collapse and become inflamed, the service life of the structures themselves is greatly reduced. Dentures begin to fail, cause severe discomfort, can become deformed, become loose and simply stop staying in the mouth.

Required conditions for the warranty to be valid

It is important to know not only about the warranty period for the manufactured denture. But also about the conditions under which the clinic will be ready to fulfill its obligations:

the breakdown did not occur through the patient’s fault: to do this, you must follow all the doctors’ recommendations,
at the preparation stage, the patient did not hide from doctors facts and diseases that could affect the quality and result of treatment, the choice in favor of one or another design and method,
the patient carefully cares for the oral cavity and performs hygiene,
the patient has fully complied with and completed the treatment plan prescribed by the doctor. Plus, he does not refuse concomitant treatment if it is necessary and the need for it was identified during one of the preventive examinations,
the patient did not apply to another clinic for work on the prosthesis, alterations or dental services,
external traumatic effects on the dental system, breakage due to biting hard foods, due to chemical and thermal factors are excluded,
According to the schedule, the patient undergoes preventive examinations (at least once every six months) and performs professional hygiene.

If your prosthesis breaks, it is important to establish the reasons for the warranty claim.

How to maintain a guarantee for dental treatment?

By providing such a guarantee, the clinic imposes certain obligations on the patient. In order for the warranty to remain valid, you must comply with its terms. They are standard and require careful treatment of teeth and careful oral care:

fairly effective self-hygiene (brushing teeth twice a day, using floss, rinses);
periodic examinations by the treating dentist, periodontist or orthodontist (performed every 3-6 months);
absence of unacceptable loads, mechanical damage to the restored teeth or structures installed in the mouth (the warranty does not cover defects arising from injuries, impacts, or other mechanical defects);
compliance with the recommendations of the attending physician, implementation of the prescribed treatment plan. This could be anti-inflammatory therapy, treatment by a periodontist, orthodontist, or periodic professional hygiene.

How to insure yourself against the clinic’s refusal to guarantee

Of course, by law there must be a warranty on dentures. But knowing what times we live in, it wouldn’t hurt to take care of collecting and preserving documentation that would confirm your rights as a consumer of goods and services. And first of all, you must have in your hands an agreement with the clinic, signed and sealed. Typically, such a document indicates all the obligations of the parties, the cost of treatment and prosthetics, the range of services provided that are covered by the guarantee, and the terms.

The contract also stipulates the conditions under which free activities carried out in the clinic apply (for example, re-treatment, service, professional hygiene and examinations).

Important ! If the clinic does not agree to fully fulfill its obligations regulated by law and correct poorly performed work that does not meet the requirements of the contract, the patient has the right to go to court.

After installing the dentures, you must follow the following rules if you want the warranty to apply:

pay attention to the condition of the oral cavity and the structures themselves in general, carry out hygiene procedures daily,
minimize traumatic factors, exclude too hard foods from the menu and get rid of bad habits (for example, biting off floss with artificial teeth, opening bottles and chewing nuts), and also avoid external mechanical influences on products (for example, situations in which removable dentures fall on the floor or tiles in the bathroom),
If the material chips or the denture fasteners break, even minor cracks appear, peeling off, problems with the gums and teeth, as well as any pronounced discomfort, you should immediately visit your doctor. But trying to repair, glue and even file the product on your own (as some patients do with removable dentures) is strictly prohibited,
undergo all preventive examinations: at the appointment, the doctor can notice and promptly correct any shortcomings that have arisen, but if you come after a long period of time, the situation may already be irreparable.

Your product, including even minor repairs, should be handled by a professional.

If the patient does not comply with the listed rules, the warranty on dentures, regardless of whether they are removable or fixed, can be legally canceled by the clinic. After all, specialists cannot be held responsible for the patient’s irresponsibility or mistakes made by other doctors.

Replacement under warranty

If after treatment a person’s filling breaks or falls out, but the warranty has not yet expired, you should demand that the problem be corrected. To do this, you need to call the reception of the dental company where the treatment was performed and make an appointment, telling about your problem. It is advisable that the person retains the contract and the receipt.

At the appointment, the doctor will examine the tooth and inform the patient whether the current situation is covered by the guarantee. If treatment was refused, but the patient is sure that the trouble arose due to poor-quality service, examinations can be carried out. You will have to do it at your own expense, but if the result is in favor of the patient, the clinic will have to pay for all services.

If, after the examination, dentistry does not want to correct its mistakes, then you should seek help from a medical lawyer. With its help, an application will be drawn up to request a medical record from the clinic. It is drawn up in two copies and one is signed by a representative of dentistry stating that the document has been approved.

After this, the patient goes to any other clinic and asks the doctor to describe the oral cavity. This procedure is necessary to file a claim. After this, you can begin dental treatment.

Secondary caries due to the fault of the doctor

When filing an application with the court, you must provide all receipts and demand compensation for moral damages.

What if the clinic doesn’t give a guarantee?

According to the Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”, in the case of the provision of paid services, the contractor has the right to establish and independently determine the warranty period for them (but this is a right, not an obligation). However, the absence of such a period does not relieve the clinic from liability to the patient for poor-quality service provided.

If deficiencies are identified during the use of orthopedic structures, the patient has the right to demand their correction no later than within 2 years from the date of acceptance of the work performed. If significant deficiencies are discovered - within 10 years. True, in this case you will have to prove your case, perhaps with the involvement of the courts.