Several years ago, I took a tumble and ended up in an emergency dental appointment with my dentist. The teeth are okay except for a large chip, which my dentist fixed with dental bonding. Now the bonding is discolored. I went to see my new dentist and asked him to replace the bonding so it would look the way it did when I first had it done. That is when everything started to go wrong. First, the color does not match AT ALL. It is so obvious that it is a different part of the tooth that I am shocked the dentist is happy with it. I have another issue with the tooth with the dental bonding being obviously longer than the adjacent tooth. Now, I also have a gap between the teeth that wasn’t there before. He insists the tooth looks better than it did before he worked on it, but I didn’t have a gap in my tooth, plus they were the same size and color. My dentist thinks I just need to get used to it. I feel deformed. Is there anything I can do?
Shannon
Dear Shannon,
First, I don’t think you are going to get anywhere with this dentist. If he is content with what you’ve described I would run away as quickly as possible. Do ask him for a refund and let him know you are going elsewhere to have it repaired. If he gives you trouble with the refund, focus on finding the right dentist to fix this. If the work is as bad as it sounds, then your new dentist will probably be willing to speak with your old dentist on your behalf. Sometimes, they are more willing to listen to their peers.
Dental bonding is quite an advanced cosmetic procedure. It is especially challenging because it has to be done freehand. You want a top of the line dentist who has real expertise and post doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. Whoever you choose will also have to do some additional repairs because of the gap that developed as a result of the shoddy work.
In your place, I would look for someone who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Any dentist who is AACD accredited is in the top 1% of dentists in the world. They will be able to create you a beautiful, natural result, such as the one you see pictured above.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
