In personal injury law, I often see the ripple effects of poor medical or dental decisions including procedures that didn’t go as planned, patients left with pain or additional costs, and confusion over who’s ultimately responsible. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, the stakes are particularly high. Unlike basic dental care, cosmetic and restorative work often involves complex, long-term procedures like implants, veneers, and full-mouth reconstructions, that directly impact both health and appearance.
To help unpack how patients can protect themselves before problems arise, I sat down with Dr. Joseph Field, a nationally recognized cosmetic dentist and owner of Peninsula Center of Cosmetic Dentistry (PCCD) in the Bay Area. Together, we discussed how choosing the right provider can prevent not only medical complications but also the legal and financial stress that sometimes follows substandard dental work.
Q&A with Eric Richman and Dr. Joseph Field
Q: Eric, from your legal perspective, why is it so important for patients to choose the right cosmetic dentist from the start?
Eric Richman: Most of the dental-related legal disputes I see could have been avoided with more diligence upfront. Patients sometimes pursue the lowest price or fastest option, not realizing how difficult and expensive it can be to correct poor dental work later. When implants fail, veneers crack, or bite issues develop, you’re not just dealing with physical discomfort, you may face ongoing costs, missed work, or even permanent damage. My role often becomes reactive, helping clients navigate accountability after the fact. The real win is prevention, which starts with choosing a qualified cosmetic dentist who prioritizes planning, precision, and transparency.
Q: Dr. Field, what are the most common problems you see when patients come in to “fix” previous cosmetic work?
Dr. Field: We frequently see bonding failures, poorly aligned restorations, and implants that weren’t properly integrated with the patient’s bite or bone structure. These issues can cause discomfort, aesthetic imbalance, and even TMJ pain. In many cases, it’s not that the dentist intended harm, they just didn’t have the advanced training or diagnostic tools to achieve the right outcome. Correcting that work is often much more complex and expensive than doing it properly the first time.
Q: What steps can patients take to protect themselves legally and financially before starting major dental treatment?
Eric Richman: Documentation is everything. Before you agree to a treatment plan, make sure it includes detailed explanations of the procedures, materials, costs, and follow-up care. Ask about warranties or policies if something fails prematurely. A reputable practice will always provide this information without hesitation. It’s also wise to verify your dentist’s training and look for before-and-after cases of similar work. Transparency and documentation not only build trust, they also form a legal safety net if something goes wrong.
Q: Dr. Field, can you tell us about your experience, credentials and what you believe patients should look for in a cosmetic-dentistry provider?
Dr. Field: Certainly. I am a Bay Area native, and for over two decades I have focused exclusively on cosmetic and implant dentistry. I’m a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (DABOI/ID), which represents the highest level of competence in implant dentistry. I also teach full-mouth rehabilitation and IV sedation courses as guest faculty at the University of Southern California which is where I did my dental training. At PCCD, every case begins with a full digital diagnostic work up, aesthetic and functional analysis, and then we use high-quality materials and master ceramists to ensure that the final result is not only beautiful but biomechanically sound. When patients review a provider, I encourage them to ask: “Where did you train? What certifications do you hold? Can you show me real patient results of the same complexity?” These questions help distinguish providers who are technically capable from those offering only basic cosmetic services.
Q: How does your practice help reduce risk so that patients are less likely to face complications or legal exposure down the road?
Dr. Field: Our commitment at PCCD is precision, planning and long-term stability. We start each patient with a comprehensive consultation, digital imaging, and a treatment design that aligns with the individual’s anatomy and lifestyle. We don’t simply place a veneer or an implant; we integrate function, aesthetics, and durability. Using top-tier labs and materials, and deploying a treatment team that understands complex rehabilitation, we dramatically reduce the likelihood of failure, regret, or subsequent legal disputes. In short: we build trust, we build quality, and we build smiles that last.
Final Thoughts from Eric Richman
Legal protection begins long before a case ever reaches a courtroom. In cosmetic dentistry, the best protection is prevention. By choosing an experienced, credentialed provider like Dr. Joseph Field and maintaining thorough documentation, patients can avoid unnecessary pain, cost, and legal exposure.
