How can you possibly make a dentist warranty crowns and bridges for 5 years? You don't require that insurance companies pay dentists whatever the work costs, but rather the state allows insurance companies to dictate to the practitioner the course of care through various forms of intimidation and pressure. Due to the recent changes in healthcare in America the Federal government is mandating total coverage without any protection of the practitioner which is giving all the power to the insurance companies - don't buy into the fallacy that the insurance companies care about their customers; which happen to be the Dentist's patients.

The practitioner is not the only party involved with a crown or a bridge - the lab, the insurance company, and the patient are also responsible for the longevity and quality of the work. It is an unfair burden to force only 1/4 of the responsible parties to extend a warranty on the work that all 4 are responsible for.  If you require a warranty then you must also require the insurance company to pay whatever the cost which will allow the practitioner to select the lab and the materials they want without fear of going bankrupt. Or the State would have to pass a law that says that patients have to pay the difference between reimbursement and actual cost so the Dentist can use the materials and labs they deem best.  How can the dentist ensure the patient follows instructions? Will the insurance companies pay for a redo? Are you going to force all labs doing business in Virginia to extend a warranty on their work as well, thus driving labs out of the state too?

Yes, the dentist's work is important and they are the only party in any procedure that has taken an oath to care for the patient. Neither the Labs, the insurance companies, nor the patient have taken an oath and dedicated their lives to Dentistry. Don't further burden the practitioners and further drive the quality Dentists out of Virginia.