May 2021 - Arnold Dental

I need some advice, I had a chipped tooth and had it repaired with dental bonding. It has aged and I needed it redone. I have since moved and had to go to another dentist. It has been a complete disaster. First, the color is whiter than the rest of my teeth. Then, one tooth is longer than the other. Finally, the tooth has a gap that wasn’t there. I asked my dentist about it and here is what she said:
“Teeth are supposed to be different colors.” When I asked about the unevenness and the gap, she told me she could try to make them the same size, but gaps happen with dental bonding. Her suggestion is that I give it a few more days to see if I like it and if not she’ll try to work on it some more for me. I am torn between giving her a second chance and just asking her for a refund.

Bethany

Dear Bethany,

I am showing you a bonding case that was done so you can know with certainty that this can be done where the teeth match, are the same size, don’t have a gap between them. I do not think your dentist will be able to achieve these results. Here is the problem. Dental school teaches mechanics, not artistry. Dental bonding is one of the most difficult cosmetic procedures. There are a variety of colors, textures, and translucencies, that are available to the dentist to create a replica of your tooth, and they have to do it freehand. This makes it one of the most challenging cosmetic procedures a dentist can do.

In order to develop the skills necessary to do this well, dentists need to invest in significant post-doctoral training in cosmetic work. Maybe your dentist is at the very beginning of this, but she’s not anywhere near ready. I think your best bet is to ask for a refund and get this done by a dentist who already has the training. She will get there, she’s just not their yet.

So who should you get to do the procedure? My suggestion is you look for an AACD accredited dentist. These dentists have proven credentials that they have both technical knowledge and artistry. They will be able to give you results such as the ones above.

As you are replacing old bonding, I’m guessing there is some normal aging on the color of your teeth. If you are going to whiten them, the time to do that is before you have the bonding redone. If you wait and have any teeth whitening after the bonding, your natural tooth structure will whiten, but the bonding will not and will have to be replaced once again.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

I just spent close to $30,000 on something I now feel was entirely unnecessary. I have a small mouth and my two front teeth turned in just a bit. Not a lot, but a bit. I also had three missing back teeth. My dentist capped four of my front teeth and put mini implants in for the back teeth. However, the caps are so big that I cannot even close my mouth all the way. It’s caused horrible dry mouth and some pain in my jaw. My smile used to be attractive and now it looks like some kind of caricature. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

I am very sorry for what you are going through, and you will not feel better when I tell you that this was done incorrectly. If I understand you correctly your two front teeth were just turned a bit inward. That could have been solved with just two porcelain veneers. Now, it is too late for that. Once that tooth structure has been removed for the porcelain crowns, then there is no way to get it back.

However, inexperienced cosmetic dentists tend to lean on doing dental crowns, which they are more comfortable with. Doing four of them does not surprise me at all. He or she probably thought that was the only way to match the crowns to the adjacent teeth. That is another flaw of inexperienced cosmetic dentists. They have trouble matching things.

Another concern is the use of mini-dental implants. I am hoping your dentist did not put dental crowns on each of them. Mini-implants are really only strong enough to support a denture, not a dental crown. You would need full-sized dental implants for that.

Not being able to close your mouth is particularly disconcerting. That dry mouth you are experiencing is quite detrimental to your oral health. Your saliva carries important minerals that help fight against decay. Without the saliva, you will begin to see a great increase in decay and possibly gum disease. Additionally, the pain to your jaw, if left untreated can lead to TMJ disorder.

Though all of that may sound frightening, I think you will find the seriousness of the issues will work out for you in the long run. It will enable you to get the refund you need to get this done right. I don’t think having your dentist try again will work out any better. Instead, I am going to suggest after you get the refund, you find an expert cosmetic dentist. The best cosmetic dentists are accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Get a consultation with an AACD accredited dentist. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

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