I’ve been crying for two days and have just decided I need to write a cosmetic dentist and ask what to do. I don’t live in your state, but have a sister who’s used you for her smile makeover and LOVED her smile. I need a full-mouth reconstruction. I went to a reputable prosthodontist because I was told that was the wise thing to do because they work in reconstruction. I brought an image of my smile before my car accident and told him this was the color and look I wanted. I wasn’t asking for a celebrity smile, just to look like I used to. He said, “Trust him. He’s been doing this for years.” When the tryins were made they didn’t look white enough. I mentioned that and he said I’d picked the wrong color but they’d look right in. I couldn’t see what they looked like in because they kept falling out. Then when the permanent ones came in the top ones seemed darker than the bottom. I mentioned that and he told me I was being impossible and I could take these or leave without teeth. I was in shock and couldn’t help but cry when they were putting them in, which seemed to annoy him more. I have a smile that I’m ashamed to let people see. They look like real teeth, but ugly real teeth. I just wanted my smile back. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
Marylynn
Marylynn,
I am sorry you are going through this. Though many prosthodontists claim to also be skilled in cosmetic work, most of them still have a dental school mentality of they know best. It’s so bad that Dr. Hall, who runs the mynewsmile.com website which recommends skilled cosmetic dentists, has only approved one prosthodontist who has requested to be listed because their cosmetic skills were too subpar.
Your prosthodontist, in particular, seems more arrogant than most. Now to tell you what to do to make this better, I’m going to start by saying you’re going to need to be tough.
You’ll likely need an attorney to threaten to sue him. I think once he talks to his insurer, they’ll let him know he’s on unstable ground and encourage him to settle with you.
What this dentist did was malpractice. He essentially forced a treatment on you, without your consent. He wouldn’t see it that way, but informed consent is the backbone of true dental practice. Any good lawyer acquainted with this industry will tell you when you’re under duress, as you certainly were, you can’t give your consent.
What you want to ask for is for him to pay for an excellent cosmetic dentist to fix this. They’ll likely need to fix the visible top porcelain crowns so they match the bottom teeth.
Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist
You have two great resources to help you locate a great cosmetic dentist in your area. One is the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Website. They have a link which allows you to look for cosmetic dentists. You want to check that you’re looking for an accredited dentist. These are the ones who’ve proven both their technical skill and artistry.
Your second resource is the mynewsmile.com website I mentioned earlier. Dr. Hall, himself an accredited dentist, though he no longer is in practice, personally screens everyone who wants to be listed on his site. He only allows top of the line dentists to be listed. Using one of their listed dentists is safe. Most of them have a beautiful smile guarantee.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.
