Hi there,
I opted for a porcelain veneer to repair a chipped tooth. Previously, I’d had bonding on this tooth, but it wore off. My family dentist recommended a crown, but I didn’t want anything invasive to fix a small chip.
My dentist made my veneer and I came in for a try-in. It looked fine, but after it was cemented in, it looked totally different. It was much too bright, and didn’t match the rest of my teeth at all. It’s longer than the rest of my teeth and makes biting into food difficult.
The dentist said nothing could be done about the length, but said I could come back to try to fix the gap. I’m more interested in getting a second opinion. Since he already messed up my teeth once, I’m hesitant to go back. Would this have happened if I had gone to a cosmetic dentist? I thought I could trust my family dentist for this, I’ve been going to him for years.
Thank you,
Sun-Mi from New York, New York
Hi Sun-Mi,
Your dentist may not have been experienced enough in making natural-looking repairs. Most general dentists value practicality and functionality over aesthetics. The difference between a general dentist and an expert cosmetic dentist is how they value blending aesthetics with strength and function. Your dentist likely created a strong, practical veneer, but since he’s not a cosmetic dentist, he didn’t prioritize making one that matched the rest of your teeth.
Since he was uncomfortable making a veneer, he could have gone with bonding, since your tooth had had bonding on it before. You were right to refuse a dental implant or crown, as that is an expensive repair for a simple chipped tooth. Your dentist likely would not have been skilled enough to complete the dental implant surgery, either.
Your dentist should have also asked for your opinion after cementing the veneer, instead of waiting for you to find a problem and have to come back in for another appointment. However, the only thing that can be done about the length of the tooth is to re-do the veneer. This is a common procedure, and your dentist should have no trouble remaking the veneer to your liking.
However, since you do not trust your dentist to fix the problem, your best bet is to find a cosmetic dentist in your area to redo the veneer until it looks more natural. You can ask your dentist for a referral, or you can look online for suggestions of cosmetic dentists in your area. Living in a city like you do, it should not be too difficult to find someone willing to take your case.
This blog post is brought to you by Enfield Dentist, Dr. William Cummisky, of Generations Dental Care.
