Q&A: What legal recourse do I have when a business skips town?

I had been seeing a dentist for 6 months for extensive dental work. Then when I went to a recent appointment the office was locked.

I have just found out that one of the two dentists has died and they just took all the equipment and pretty much skipped town.

The conundrum is I had paid $ 4000 upfront for a tooth implant and they were suppose to do it at the appointment.

So what officially authorized recourse do I have? They did do some work like extracting wisdom teeth and implanting the rod for the tooth. Another dentist has estimated the implant would cost $ 2000.

Answer by Capitalist and proud of it
If you can find them, sue them in small claims court. But if not, you’re liable out of luck.

Answer by WRG
Is the dentist that died, your dentist? If so it will make this a small tougher. But it really depends on how the practice was set up legally.

You need to file a small claims suit against the practice though it was set up.

You should also contact what ever board or agency licenses dentists in your state.

Answer by Tracey Seth
Do you know everywhere they went to? Surely there is a dental board in your state for practicing dentists. You might even try calling information and asking for a Dr. Soandso in anytown in your state. Check the Internet too. If the partner is practicing, then you shouldn’t have too much distress finding him/her.

Then question the business office how you should proceed. I am sure you are not the only patient this has happened to and if the destist has any desire to keep his business healthy, he/she will direct you to the right house to get a refund or complete your treatment.

Answer by Willie
get a hold of the state dental board and find out were he are she is also i hope you have that all in righting if so you can get it done and sue them for the DIFRNCE may be the other dentist will work with you are help the other one gives a terrible name to them all

Answer by bedfordczarina
1) Before you do anything else, make a excellent belief effort to find the surviving dentist on your own. This should include trying to find any former office employees, and calling the license board for dentists in your state. I’m sure the dentist will be vital to bring up to date the board as to everywhere he/she is now practicing.

2) Call the office of the Secretary of State for your state. When businesses incorporate, they are vital to file paperwork with the Secretary. Question whether they have any information about the ancient business, and whether they have any records of a new practice set up by the same dentist. Also, if the dentist that was treating you is the one that died, find out what kind of practice it was. In other words, would the surviving dentist be responsible for the debts of the other? He doubtless is, unless they were merely sharing office space.

3) If you find that your dentist is the one that died, and you can’t find the other dentist, check with some of the local probate courts to see whether somebody has filed a will. You might be able to recover your money from the dentist’s estate. You’ll need to go on this pretty quickly.

4) If all of this is unsuccessful, take it to the police. Make sure you take documentation of all the things you have done on your own to find the other dentist. You are free to your money back. Skipping after taking payment is fraud.

5) If all of this fails, go to a local news channel. They *like* doing investigations like this. They are also really excellent at tracking people down.

Give your answer to this question below!
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best dental implant

I have an appointment with my dentist tomorrow morning. I have to choose whethter or not to extract a cracked tooth, or have a root canal done. It’s way cheaper to have the extraction and I can always get an implant later, but it’s still a scary concept. It’s an upper rear molar so it shouldn’t be visible but I’m having a hard time adjusting to the fact that tomorrow it will be gone, forever. Has anyone else shared this experience? Did you regret it?

Answer by Chief Boot Knocka
I’d go with the root canal. If a tooth can be saved, that’s always the best option, extraction should be a last resort. Yes an extraction is cheaper, but if you’re going to have a bridge place in later anyways, that negates that!

Answer by Tuffey APBT
I felt the same way just take it out and I’ll worry about it later, but after talking to people that have had both done I would go with the root canal. Talk to your dentists. They will be able to tell you what the results will be.

Answer by FifthSonata
I’d get the advise of a professional – your dentist. They’ll know the best option for you.

Though, I’ve had teeth removed – all of my wisdom teeth. I know it’s not quite comparable to having a tooth removed due to a cracked tooth, but, it didn’t bother me. The only annoying thing were the stitches.

In any case, talk to the dentist and get *their* advise.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!