Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

Disastrous Smile Makeover

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I went to my dentist in the hopes of having my top four front teeth fixed. They are overcrowded and misaligned. My dentist said if we did cosmetic dentistry, it could make the teeth appear aligned and not overcrowded and I wouldn’t have to deal with two years of braces. That sounded great to me, so I agreed. His assessment was to do dental bonding on the #10 tooth, a porcelain veneer on the #7 tooth, and shaping of the other visible upper teeth. He told me that would take care of all the appearance issues. By the time he finished, the teeth were still overcrowded and misaligned and he charged me a little over 9K, which included some shaping of the lower teeth, which I never signed on for. I asked him about the results he promised me and he said in order to achieve that I would need four dental crowns on the top teeth, including root canals. All of this additional work would cost me another 7K. I decided it was time for a second opinion. The next dentist said that all this smile makeover would have required would be some teeth whitening and four porcelain veneers on the upper teeth with no root canal treatments and no crowns. I am going to get this done with the second dentist. My question is, is there a way for me to get back the money I poured into this with my original dentist?

Matthew

Dear Matthew,

Porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

We are gathering together a large number of cosmetic dentistry horror stories, such as yours, in order to warn patients about the importance of choosing the right dentist when it comes to cosmetic dental work. You have certainly been taken advantage of by this dentist. First, he promised results he did not deliver. Secondly, he charged you for work you didn’t agree to (which is illegal). Finally, he changed the treatment plan once you weren’t happy with the results. If that was the right course of action, why didn’t he suggest that to begin with?

I am glad you sought a second opinion, and porcelain veneers are definitely a better option for the type of smile you’ll like. The word of this second dentist should help you secure the refund I believe you are entitled to. However, before you do that, I want you to make sure this second dentist is any more qualified to give you a better result than the first dentist. Many patients don’t realize that not only are smile makeovers not taught in dental school, but there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. This means any dentist can do the work regardless of the training they invested in (or didn’t).

In your place, I would seek out an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country with proven technical skills and artistry. Then, have that dentist help you secure your refund and do the follow-up work.

With regard to your refund, under most circumstances, most dentists would care enough about the opinion of their peers to give you that refund. However, it sounds to me like your dentist may be less interested in the opinions of his patients and peers than in his pocketbook. In that case, you may have to get tough and threaten to sue him. I am fairly certain his insurance company will tell him to settle.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jeomre Cha.

I Hate My Porcelain Veneers

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I had a full set of porcelain veneers done (six in total). The whole thing feels like a disaster. I wish I’d have got my teeth whitened ahead of time because you can still see teeth that don’t have veneers on them when I smile and they are much more yellow than my new veneers. Even if I had though, this smile looks ridiculous. There are gaps on top between the veneers and the gum as well as between some of the teeth. They also aren’t as white as I asked for. When he first did the wax model, I mentioned all these issues and he told me it was because it was the wax. Once the real ones were made, none of that would be an issue. Then, when he did the try-in of the real ones, everything seemed exactly like the wax ones. I mentioned that and he said we should bond them on and we’d see what I thought then. I agreed, but I’m not sure why. He did appear frustrated with me so I felt a bit like I was being a “problem patient”. I didn’t like them after they were bonded on. He told me to give it some time and see if I’m just not used to the new look. I did, and still didn’t like them. Now he is saying I agreed to bond them on. Is there anything I can do?

Miriam

Dear Miriam,

Porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

Thank you for writing. You have been through quite a bit with this dentist. You are facing one of the big problems with cosmetic dentistry these days. It isn’t a recognized specialty. That means any general dentist can do cosmetic dentistry. There are cosmetic dentists who have invested their time and money in training to do smile makeover, which is not taught in dental school. Then, there are general dentists who just call themselves cosmetic dentists.

It sounds like your dentist was going through some motions he’s heard about without understanding what they were for. Both the wax mock-up and the try-in are for YOU to decide what you think of them. If you don’t like them in either step, they should go back to the lab to be re-done until they are done to your satisfaction.

Under normal circumstances, because you had given approval for him to bond them on, you would have no recourse. You aren’t able to get a refund simply because you don’t like how they look. However, there is something you mentioned that could work in your favor. You said there are gaps between the top of your porcelain veneers and your gumline. This isn’t an issue of them being unattractive. It is a functional issue. Those gaps will trap food and other bacteria. This will cause you both gum disease and decay. So…yay you! Now you can get a refund.

My suggestion is that you have a dentist with real expertise look at your case. If they agree about that gap, they can help you secure your refund. Just make sure you don’t tell them who did your porcelain veneers until after they give their opinion. The dental world is a small one. It is better for you if they do not feel conflicted because it would mean saying something negative about a friend.

The best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. This is different from membership. It means they have proven their cosmetic skill and are capable of creating beautiful smiles. This is who you should get to give your second opinion and to re-do your porcelain veneers.

As to the teeth whitening, go ahead and get that done. It won’t hurt your porcelain veneers and it will even up your smile somewhat.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Another Cosmetic Dentistry Horror Story

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I need some advice. It was time to replace porcelain veneers I had placed a little over 25 years ago. My dentist decided I needed to have my bite opened and went with dental crowns. When he did the temporaries, I kept telling him they didn’t feel right. Every. Single. Day. I kept asking him to re-do them. When the permanents came in, he just barreled through with everything. Now I can’t even keep my mouth closed. My mouth is so dry I have to have a drink constantly. I’m in pain all the time too. I asked my dentist and he said he met all the checkpoints and my case is perfect. He suggests I just give it time to heal. It has already been a few weeks. How long should this take?

Veronica

Dear Veronica,

woman grabbing her jaw in pain

It is not a matter of healing. This is serious and your dentist completely botched this case. It may be he is a decent man and good at your basic dental procedures, but he is in over his head on this one. I don’t think he understands the checkpoints he spewed at you. The fact that he barrelled forward even with you telling him the problems you were having with the temporaries makes me question his empathy and ethics at this point. Though, as I said, he may have been in over his head and not ready to admit that.

His incompetence is obvious. One of the first “checkpoints” is when your mouth is relaxed it closes naturally. Yours isn’t. This is called lip incompetence and is a huge issue. It leads to dry mouth, which you are already experiencing. Your saliva is key in fighting bacteria and preventing decay. Without that saliva, you are too susceptible to that bacteria growing.

I know you mentioned you are drinking a lot to keep the dry feeling out. It’s helpful in keeping your lip from sticking to your teeth. However, make sure you are only drinking water. That liquid will find its way underneath your dental crowns to your teeth. Without the requisite amount of saliva, your teeth will be eaten away by any sugar your liquids contain. Until this is fixed—water only.

What to Do From Here

Your case has to be re-done from the beginning. Unfortunately, now that your dentist did dental crowns instead of porcelain veneers you’ll need to have crowns from here on out. I’m going to highly suggest you use a different dentist. I wouldn’t let your dentist anywhere near your teeth. Ask for a full refund. If he gives you any problem tell him you’ll be talking to an attorney.

Once he hears the word lawyer, he’ll call his insurance. Given the facts of the case, they’ll tell him to settle and quickly. Your repairs should at a minimum be completely paid for. I’d like you to see an AACD accredited dentist who’s done work in full-mouth reconstructions, which is what you will need.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Dentist Stained my Lumineers

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I’m so upset. I spent a fortune on these Lumineers and they are an absolute disaster. First, I told him I wanted a very white smile. He said they could do that. When he bonded them on, though, they weren’t nearly as white as I asked for. When I mentioned that he said in order for them to look natural they have to add a slight stain. If I wanted my natural looking teeth, I wouldn’t have paid a fortune to have whiter ones made. I insisted that he make them whiter. He told me they couldn’t be whitened but he could remove the stain. I agreed to that not knowing he was going to essentially drill the top layer off. Now I’ve got misshapen, dull looking teeth. What do I do?

Caryn

Dear Caryn,

A porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

The dentist is more important than the brand of porcelain veneers

The first thing you need to know if your dentist isn’t a true cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. Every cosmetic dentist is just a general dentist who enjoys doing cosmetic work. Unfortunately, skill and training vary. I don’t think your dentist truly sought expert training in cosmetic work.

A few things make me think this. First, he thought a stain was necessary. True cosmetic dentists understand patients want very white smiles. As you said, they’re not looking for natural color. They want clean and white. He didn’t understand that. Second, he thought he knew better than you. In general dental school we are taught dentists know best. However, when we study cosmetics, we know it’s what the patient wants that rules. It’s not repair we’re going for but beauty. That beauty is in the eye of the patient.

Finally, he didn’t understand what he was doing would ruin them. Or worse, he did and didn’t care.

You need a refund. Your dentist has ruined your smile makeover. Not that you were pleased with it anyway. In a small way, his drilling off the top layer is a blessing in disguise. Before he ruined them, it would have been hard to get a refund. The standard for dental work is functional, not beauty.

However, now, without their glazed layer, he’s ruined them and they are not functional. Tell him you want a refund. Your next step is to find a true cosmetic dentist.

Getting Gorgeous Porcelain Veneers

I’ll say one other thing first. If all you wanted was a whiter smile, your dentist would have better served you by offering you teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening can get your teeth brilliantly white and is much less expensive than Lumineers. He didn’t, which makes me feel he was taking advantage of you.

I could be completely wrong about that. Maybe you wanted some other things changed about your teeth, such as their shape or size in addition to the color. In that case, a smile makeover with porcelain veneers would be the right course of action.

If you want a stunning smile, you should go the website of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They have a link to find a cosmetic dentist. Make sure you check you’re looking for an accredited cosmetic dentist. These are the ones with the training and artistry to give you a smile you’ll be proud to share.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Terrible Cosmetic Dentist

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I am in tears and hope you can help me. I spent more money than I even want to type to get a smile makeover. I hate it. The color is darker than my natural teeth, even though I picked the whitest shade the color specialist showed me.  Plus, there are some gaps between the veneered teeth. My dentist says they look great, but I don’t agree. He’s offered to do them again, but will have to charge me again. Is there any other recource?

Paige F. – Billings, MT

Paige,

I hate it when I hear these horror stories, especially knowing you’ve spent so much hard earned money.  You’ve had the unfortunate experience of going to a dentist who knows some cosmetic procedures, but really has no expertise in doing them.

A couple of things you’ve said stand out to me. First, is the “color specialist”. There really is no such thing. My guess is either he sent you to the lab, or he has someone from the lab the comes to his office.  It is supposed to be the cosmetic dentist who orders the coloring, based on the desires of his patients.

Those with an expertise in cosmetic dentistry, all have certain procedural commonalities. First, they have some method of learning what type of smile their patient wants. They’ll also do temporary veneers so their patients can try them on and make sure they are absolutely in love with them before the real ones are bonded on permanently.

The color issue also bothers me. If you’re natural teeth are whiter than the veneers, they couldn’t have given you very good color options. Even the most rudimentary cosmetic dentist knows that  when someone is getting a smile makeover, they want their teeth really white.

Unfortunately, there really isn’t a way to fix what your dentist has done. The entire case will have to be redone.  Whatever you do, don’t go back to the same dentist. You really need someone wtih expertise.  My suggestion if you look for someone in your area who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). You’ll be in fantastic hands that way.  It’s possible with their help you can get a partial refund from your current dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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