Picture Gallery I
Scenario #1: A tooth is
listed for replacement with a bridge. Was this accident related?
Or was it a pre-existing
condition?
The missing tooth in the example on the right has been gone for a significant amount of time, since long before the accident in question. NADENT consultants use key findings to determine this.
For example, bone changes
with time. In some cases, some teeth shift over time.
In many cases, a thorough
dental exam and comprehensive treatment plan accounts for listing
a bridge or implant to replace a missing tooth, even though it
was missing before the accident and was not accident related.
By submitting your dental injury claims to NADENT for review,
our consultants serve to clear up any confusion over what is accident
related, and what is not related.
Scenario #2: A claimant
states that some of his teeth have been loose "ever since
the accident." The dentist confirms some teeth are loose
and plans to extract some of them and do periodontal surgery on
a few others. Is this accident related? Or was it a pre-existing
condition?
NADENT consultants evaluate
the bone support around the roots of teeth. This is a key indicator
to determine if the condition is due to a traumatic impact, or
was caused by periodontal disease, a long-standing infectious
condition. Other key indicators are also evaluated, such as periodontal
charting, dental chart notes, and history of tooth loss.
Scenario #3: A patient
(claimant) has been told his tooth is abscessed (due to a dead
nerve) and must have a root canal filling, post and core, and
a crown. Another claimant was told his abscessed tooth must be
extracted. Is this trauma related? Or pre-existing?
If an x-ray reveals the
tip of the root of a tooth has a circular shaped dark shadow around
it, this indicates a tooth that has been dead for quite awhile.
This is one of the criteria that NADENT consultants evaluate to
determine how long a tooth has been dead - which helps to determine
if this condition is pre-existing, or if it could be due to the
accident in question. In addition, NADENT consultants check for
other indicators on the x-rays to determine if the cause was deep
decay, as it so often is, or if it was due to trauma, which is
possible. By having a NADENT consultant review this type of claim,
the actual injuries can be more clearly identified, recommending
a payment amount that is appropriate for the injuries sustained,
without including additional procedures which are unrelated to
the accident.
Scenario #4: A tooth is
"broken down," allegedly due to biting on a hard object,
or due to an impact that jammed the teeth together. Was this due
to pre-existing decay, large fillings, old cracks following years
of wear and tear? Or is it due to a traumatic encounter as claimed?
NADENT
consultants will study photos like this one, along with x-rays,
and advise you whether the condition is due to trauma or simply
due to years of wear and tear, coupled with decay or cracks. They
will also advise you whether the treatment proposed is appropriate
and necessary, and if the fee is reasonable and customary.