I have had a gap in my front teeth ever since I was a kid. As an adult now, I was talking over options with my dentist. I wanted porcelain veneers. But, he recommended dental bonding. He said it wouldn’t be as invasive and the results would be just as nice. So, I trusted him to do it. He went ahead and did it the same day, so I didn’t have any time to continue thinking it over.
I wish I would have stuck to my gut. The first time I looked in the mirror, I could tell that it didn’t line up correctly. The space between the teeth just looks unbalanced. I told him about my concern and he said that no one else would notice. That really bugged me. He went on to say that I was just used to seeing the gap and what he did was natural-looking. I just left because I felt frustrated and low and behold, a couple days later the bonding came off of one of the teeth. So, he fixed it. Then, a couple more days passed and the bonding came off of the other tooth.
What do I do now? I didn’t have a good feeling from the start. Can it be removed and replaced with porcelain veneers?
-Gretchen in Wisconsin
Gretchen,
This is unfortunate. When dental bonding is done correctly, by an expert cosmetic dentist, it can be an excellent alternative to getting porcelain veneers. It is less expensive and it is less invasive, since porcelain veneers require a tiny portion of your natural tooth to be removed.
However, having the bonding come off is not normal. It sounds like it didn’t adhere properly. Also, you shouldn’t still have a noticeable gap, especially if that is what you were trying to have fixed. The shape sounds like it isn’t quite right either. The procedure could have been rushed. Or since it has come off both teeth, along with the alignment issues, it more likely sounds like the dentist’s skill level isn’t where it needs to be to create a beautiful smile. Many general dentists get in over their ahead and don’t have the extensive training required to to beautiful cosmetic dentistry.
It would be within reason to request a refund at this point. Then, try to find the best cosmetic dentist in your area that can either redo your dental boding or move forward with porcelain veneers. It doesn’t sound like you should stick with this dentist any longer. He doesn’t sound empathetic to what you think and the bonding is not functioning properly.
Depending on where you live, you may need to travel to a nearby city to get find a reputable cosmetic dentist. James T. Gavrilos, DDS is a cosmetic dentist in Barrington, IL, near Chicago. If it isn’t too far of a drive for you, we would be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation to give you specific recommendations to get the beautiful smile you’re after.