Many years ago, I fell and chipped a tooth. The dentist did a small filling to repair it, but over the ensuing years, it has darkened quite a bit.
I’ve talked to my regular dentist about this but she does not really seem to have any solutions to offer me. She is reluctant to do a porcelain crown because the canal has calcified as a result of the tooth being dead. I suggested Lumineers as a solution, but she said she was sure I would be unhappy with those, because there have been “problems” with them.
In the meantime, it seems like my tooth is getting darker every time I look at it, and I am getting kind of embarassed to smile, which frankly stinks. Do you have any suggestions? I am really not sure at all where to turn next.
Dulcie in Sante Fe
Dear Dulcie,
It really sounds as if your dentist is not comfortable with cosmetic dentistry procedures. If there is one hard and fast rule about dentistry, it is to never push your dentist to perform a procedure he is not comfortable with. The results are almost never good. The good news is that your dentist seems to be sending you the message loud and clear that she is not comfortable with doing either a porcelain crown or porcelain veneer (Lumineers are a brand name of porcelain veneers), so this opens the door for you to seek help from a truly gifted, trained cosmetic dentist.
If you choose the right dentist, they will help you choose the right treatment. If the only problem you have with your smile is that one tooth, then it may be possible that a skilled bit of dental bonding will take care of the problem. If there are other issues, then porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers may be in order. In any case, the most important task you have in front of you is to locate a dentist who has the artistic skills and experience to offer you all of these options.
This blog maintained by the office of Grosse Pointe Woods cosmetic dentist Dr. Hadgis as a courtesy.