I didn’t have the best looking smile to begin with, I had a tooth gap and a couple of chips, but they were my teeth and they were fairly healthy. Then I got cancer and everything went to pot…including my teeth. They say it was the chemo and radiation. I ended up having to get dentures. That was humiliating enough, especially after losing my hair. However, the worst came when the dentures were finished. They look horrible. Completely fake. When I mentioned it to my dentist, he scoffed at me and said they’re as pretty as they can be and the smile I had before wasn’t anything to smile about anyway. That hurt. But I am wondering if he’s being honest. Are dentures going to look fake no matter what?
Esperanza C. – New Mexico
Esperanza,
I am so sorry for what you’ve experienced. Your dentist had no right to say what he did about your smile before the dentures. I can only assume that he was pouncing on you out of embarrassment at the quality of his work.
To answer your question, dentures can be made to look not just natural, but stunningly beautiful. However, it takes a dentist with advanced cosmetic skills to make them so.
If I were in your place, I’d get a second opinion from a highly skilled cosmetic dentist. Check the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (aacd.com) to see if there is an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area. They’re among the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Depending on the dentures, they might be able to help you get a refund so you can have some new ones made.
This blog is brought Dr. Jerome Cha.