• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Most people don't enjoy a trip to the dentist and one valley woman recently had a bad experience. When she continued to get the runaround, she reached out to Channel 13's Call for Action volunteers for help.

"I have to smile like this all the time. They're hideous," says Sandy Hilpipre.

She's upset with her dentist. She says she's stuck with an ugly smile.

"I'm still without my freakin' teeth. And it's so sad because he's taken my smile," says Sandy.

She says she's been going to the same dentist for several years and never had any issues. So back in April, she had no problem agreeing to his idea of some major work.

"He saw my existing crowns and said you know what, let's make your smile beautiful," says Sandy.

She says the dentist took out her existing crown work. A mold was then taken for a replacement bridge. But Sandy says the work wasn't cheap.

"I paid him $2,000 and he said it will be ready in three weeks," says Sandy.

She wore a temporary crown during the three-week wait. Then she ran into a delay.

"Came back three weeks with another $250 that he needed from me and it wasn't ready," says Sandy.

She says that was the beginning of one delay after another.

"It just escalated. Every week or two, I go in and it's not ready... and my temporary broke, I had to get that replaced," says Sandy.

She says nearly three months went by with one excuse after another. And she had to go back to the dentist numerous times for additional work.

"I had five molds taken. Five! And then he said okay, it's ready. Because I said, it's been 11 weeks we gotta do something," says Sandy.

But she says when she got to the dentist, it was just another disappointment. Her teeth still weren't ready. And that's when sandy decided to call Contact 13's Call for Action volunteers.

"Low and behold that same day I get a call from him. Oh, he's going to pay me back now," says Sandy.

About a week later, she got this check for $2,000. Something she says she couldn't have done alone.

"Without Channel 13 he never would have done anything," says Sandy.

So here's the Contact 13 bottom line: always make sure you know the details of any major procedure you're having. Understand what possible delays or complications you can run into.

If there's an issue, there are organizations you can turn to. In Sandy's case, she's filing a complaint with the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners.

And if all else fails, we've got your back Las Vegas. Contact our Call for Action volunteers at 368-2255 anytime between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday.