My regular dentist was getting close to retirement and recommended I see a cosmetic dentist to repair a small chip in one of my front teeth. He recommended direct dental bonding and then said porcelain veneers would round out my smile. Then, in the consultation, he changed his mind and said I needed crowns since I had fillings in some of the teeth.
I didn’t know any better and trusted him, because how would I know what the appropriate dental treatment was. Now, I’m hating myself for it. I wish I would have done some more research or at least got a second opinion. I had six porcelain crowns on my front teeth and I don’t like them at all. When I smile, they look gray. Well, most of them look gray, they don’t even all look like the same color.
Is there any hope for my case?
– Pam in Indiana
Pam,
This sounds like an unfortunate circumstance and sadly one that happens all too often. In fact, you probably liked your teeth before you spent all this money on cosmetic dentistry.
Not just any dentist does beautiful cosmetic dentistry. To be an excellent cosmetic dentist requires extensive training beyond dental school, as well as a passion for creating beauty. A general dentist typically is more functionally-minded and a cosmetic dentist has an artistic eye, one for creating beauty. It sounds like you are experiencing your very own cosmetic dentistry horror story.
At this point, the only option is to have the crowns redone. Hopefully, this dentist will do the right thing and replace them free of charge. However, it is concerning that he suggested such an invasive treatment plan and the result was so terrible. Therefore, you may want to consider finding a new cosmetic dentist.
If you stay with the original, you will need to insist that you see the new crowns before they are permanently bonded. A clear try-in paste is ideal since it will help give you a clear picture to see if your natural teeth will show through. If you get the sense that he doesn’t have clear paste or understand what you’re asking, you honestly need to find a more experienced cosmetic dentist.
If the work truly looks as bad as you explained, you really should see someone else. There is a chance the new dentist could help you pursue a refund for some or all of the work.
As unfortunate as this situation is, thank you for sharing. Hopefully, it will help another person exploring their options in cosmetic dentistry and reinforce the importance of finding an excellent one.
Good luck!
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS