I recently had a porcelain veneer done on a front tooth and it looks hideous. Well, let me back up and explain the whole story. Five years ago, I chipped my front tooth in a biking accident. The dentist did some minor tooth bonding and it looked fine. I felt like it blended in pretty well and I was happy it was taken care of right away.
Unfortunately, the dental bonding on the front tooth didn’t last. I ended up going to a new dentist to have the bonding work redone. The new dentist told me that the tooth bonding work couldn’t be fixed and suggested a porcelain crown. That kind of freaked me out, since this is just a small chip. So, I suggested a porcelain veneer instead.
The dentist seemed interested in getting it started right away. So, I was prepped on the spot. But, it took several weeks for the porcelain veneer to come back from the ceramist. When I went back in to have the permanent porcelain veneer cemented in place, all seemed fine. It was short and sweet. But, I didn’t even get in the home before it was driving me nuts. It just didn’t feel right. It turns out that there’s a gap between my natural tooth and where the porcelain veneer begins. Then, I examined it further and couldn’t believe it. It’s not straight and it’s longer than the surrounding teeth.
When I called to complain, they told me that it just takes a little getting used to. I’m so frustrated! Is there any way the porcelain veneer can be fixed?
-Beck in Colorado
Beck,
Unfortunately, it sounds like this dentist was in over his head. There are many red flags about the situation.
Porcelain veneer problems
First, there was no explanation given about the dental bonding work. Why couldn’t it be redone? Going from dental bonding to a porcelain crown is a big jump. A reputable cosmetic dentist would have presented you with the pros and cons for each treatment option. Making that kind of suggestion leaves one to wonder if he wasn’t comfortable with his bonding skills.
Then, for the dentist to suggest such an invasive treatment option as a crown for a minor chip – something isn’t adding up. Next, you made the suggestion for the porcelain veneer on the front tooth. You shouldn’t be the one making the treatment recommendations. This just doesn’t sound legit.
Lastly, it doesn’t sound like you were given the opportunity to view the work before you left the office. This is a big no-no. Having the patient’s buy-in is one of the most important steps in any kind of cosmetic dentistry treatment. The patient should always be able to see the work so the dentist knows you’re happy with it. It sound like they wanted you to leave as soon as possible.
Having the dentist tell you that you’ll get used to the porcelain veneer over time is not acceptable either. The veneer doesn’t sound like it was properly fitted. On top of that, it sounds like it looks bad too.
Sadly, even if they offer to redo the work, it would be in your best interest to get a second opinion from a reputable cosmetic dentist in your area.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS