I think I made a hasty decision. I wanted a smile makeover and mentioned it to my dentist. He said he knew how to do one. I was so excited about getting it done, that I just agreed without doing any research. I know— stupid. It turns out that knowing how and good execution are two different things, but I’m guessing you already knew that. Getting them was super easy and completely pain-free so I have no complaints there. I do worry about the fact that they’re off center. My dentist insists they’re in the perfect spot and I must be looking at them from an angle. But, I think he’s embarrassed. Is there any way I can fix this? Now all I see when I look in the mirror are those off-centered front teeth.
Delleth A.
Dear Delleth,
I’m sorry you’ve had a disappointing result. You’ve also put a pin right on what your dentist is likely feeling. He told you he could do it and then ended up botching it. Everyone wants to be known as skilled at their work.
Porcelain veneers are unique in that it takes more than skill. It also takes an artistic eye and a great deal of training along with it. A skilled cosmetic dentist would have noticed the position issue and never have bonded in place. Even if they had, they’d not be satisfied with the results. They’d rather do the whole procedure over than have a sub-par result. In fact, most true cosmetic dentists have a beautiful smile guarantee.
It sounds like your veneers have already been bonded on. Unfortunately, the only way to fix it at that point is to do the whole case over. You’re welcome to give him another go. Tell him you’re unhappy with the results and he can either re-do the smile on center or give you a refund.
If you decide to go with the refund and another dentist, Look for one who has reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). They’re among the most skilled cosmetic dentists in the world. You’re sure to get stunning results.
As to the crookedness, for now, I want to show you a couple of pictures that may make you feel better in the interim.
As you can see from Tom Cruise’s pictures, you’re not the only one whose dentist placed their porcelain veneers on off-center. It drives me crazy every time I see the images but most people don’t notice and think he’s nice looking. So, every time you’re feeling insecure about your smile while you’re waiting on the repair, you can say to yourself, “I have something in common with Tom Cruise.”
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Theodore Hadgis.