I had dental bonding done to repair chips on my two front teeth. They ended up so bulky that it became hard for me to speak properly. The dentist said I’d get used to the new feel. I didn’t. Plus, they were so much bulkier than the adjacent teeth I was miserable. When I originally had them done, they told me it was reversible. I decided to take them up on that and have them removed. When they did that, the teeth ended up splotchy. I mentioned that and they said that is how my teeth were before and I just don’t remember. That is absolutely NOT true. Do I have any recourse? Can this be fixed?
Penny
Dear Penny,
First, I’m going to say I’m sorry this happened to you. This has been a disaster from the beginning. It sounds like whatever dentist you went to isn’t very familiar with cosmetic dentistry. First, let’s talk about the bulk. Unless you were talking about replacing lost enamel, there is no reason to add bulk. The teeth should be the same depth they were before. Adding too much bulk can affect speech (as you’ve experienced). It can also lead to food and bacteria getting trapped which will lead to decay.
The second problem you ran into is them telling you it is removable. While technically, you can grind it down, it would take an expert cosmetic dentist to do it right. Here’s what happens, they grind down and have to estimate where your enamel is. If it’s splotchy, they’ve gone too far.
Getting Bad Dental Bonding Fixed
I’m going to tell you up front that you’ll have to have these re-done. You can ask for a refund. Without some documentation of your before teeth, it might be hard to get one, but it is worth a shot. When you have them re-done, I’m going to highly suggest you go to a different dentist.
If you can afford it, I’d go with porcelain veneers instead of dental bonding because it will last longer. It’s okay if you need to stay with bonding. Just make sure you go to a true cosmetic dentist either way. Dental bonding has to be done freehand, so it takes a true artist with a sure technique to do it right.
The best cosmetic dentists have attained accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top 15 of cosmetic dentists in the world. If you don’t have an accredited dentist in a reasonable distance, a second option is to check mynewsmile.com. They prescreen dentists who want to be listed there for both technical training and artistry. Many of them are either accredited or on their way to accreditation. Any of them can provide you with a gorgeous smile.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.
