I had an absolutely awful experience with this dentist that has completely upended my life. Last year, I went in with the intention of having all my front teeth pulled and getting a partial denture. However, Dr. Fopma refused to do this. Knowing my teeth were in poor health and visibly broken, dentures were my first choice. I had no pain in my teeth besides minor sensitivity to cold but wanted them to look cosmetically appealing for my wedding in April. But instead, Dr. Fopma insisted that I needed multiple crowns, claiming this would solve my dental issues, improve my smile, prolonging my bone and jaw health, all while supposedly costing less. She ignored my wishes, saying, "I wouldn't let my daughter do that at such a young age." Feeling rushed and pressured in the chair, I reluctantly agreed to the crowns so we could just get started. The results have been disastrous.
From the beginning, the crowns were poorly fitted, causing constant pain and sensitivity that never went away. They shift when I chew or even move my mouth in certain ways, putting pressure on different teeth and parts of my gums. Half of them no longer feel securely attached, and my jaw is constantly fatigued near those teeth. When I went back for adjustments about a month after getting the crowns, the dentist was dismissive, blamed me for the pain, and offered no real solutions, except to charge me another $80. I was given antibiotics even though the X-rays showed no infection. Dr. Fopma also did not acknowledge when I mentioned there was movement and grinding of the crowns.
About two months after getting the crowns, I went to Comfort Dental for a second opinion. I explained that I had been given antibiotics, which alleviated some of the gum pain but did nothing to address the grinding, tension, or overall pain and sensitivity. The dentist there questioned why I was given antibiotics if I had no infection but suggested I must have had one since the antibiotics provided some relief. They performed tests on my teeth and confirmed that there was definite movement. They presented a few options to fix the issues, but I couldn't afford them. Since then, I've been waiting in pain that only gets worse.
On top of that, I was never properly informed about how to care for the crowns. I was only given a quick demonstration of how they fit over a tooth, but no guidance on maintenance, what foods to avoid, or what sensations might indicate a problem. Some of the crowns are so tightly fitted and pointed at the gum line that floss constantly gets stuck, making it extremely difficult to floss properly. When I raised this concern, Dr. Fopma's only response was to "pull harder," even though it felt like the crown might come loose. During an adjustment appointment, the dentist flossed my teeth so aggressively that I was in pain for four hours afterward, ignoring my complaints that flossing was already painful because the teeth were pushing against each other and shifting.
I brush twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash at night, thinking it would be enough. Now, I live in constant fear whenever I feel nerve pain, not knowing if it's something serious. I even have to drink everything, including water, through a straw to avoid the pain. I've even scrounged up money to get consistent quarterly cleanings like Dr. Fopma recommended, to show my efforts of taking care of these.
This experience has ruined my quality of life. I can no longer eat any of the foods I once enjoyed and have lost nearly 10 pounds over the past 9 months without intending to change my diet or exercise. Anything that requires biting is basically off-limits. While my smile looked good for my wedding in April, it has never felt as good as it looks. Daily things like shaving, washing my face in the shower, applying chapstick or eating a popsicle, cause unnecessary movement.
9 months later, I'm left with crowns that have caused new issues like bite problems and gum irritation. I've spent so much on these crowns that I can't afford to see another dentist to fix the damage or address my other damaged teeth. Maxed out my 2023 and 2024 insurance, and a new carecredit card on 6 teeth with no resolution. I'm stuck in daily discomfort with no end in sight, fearing that my underlying teeth are just decaying beneath these poorly fitted crowns. Even if I had the money, I wouldn't trust this place to do anything but dismiss my claims, instead of listening to the discomfort they caused me.
I deeply regret ever trusting this dentist. Their lack of skill, empathy, and willingness to listen has left me in a worse situation than before. Please, save yourself from this nightmare and find a dentist who actually cares about your well-being, not just a quick buck. I've waisted thousands. read more
