I’m feeling really sad about my porcelain veneers. I spent a lot of money and had been saving for years. When the dentist put them on, they looked a little off to me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I told my dentist something looked weird to me, but because I couldn’t give him specifics he figured it was because I’m not used to the smile. I figured he could be right and went home. Several days went by and it’s still bothering me. I asked my sister about it and she says the front teeth aren’t centered. Once she pointed it out, it was obvious. I called my dentist and he said they’re perfect. When I insisted they weren’t he told me once they’re bonded on nothing can be changed. Is that true? Did I spend a fortune on a permanently crooked smile?

Sara,

Dear Sara,

I’m very sorry you’ve received a disappointing smile. It sounds like you went to your family dentist instead of someone who’s invested time and money into becoming an expert at cosmetic work. Unfortunately, because there isn’t a recognized cosmetic dentistry specialty it’s very hard for patients to know who is great in the field and who just gets by. We’ll talk about how to find an expert cosmetic dentist a little later. First, let’s address your specific issue.

Once porcelain veneers are bonded on it’s permanent, but that doesn’t mean your dentist couldn’t take responsibility and re-do the veneers at his cost. It doesn’t sound like he intends to do that, though. It would be hard to force him into it. Unfortunately, the standard with the dental board is function, not form.

So you know, even celebrities have had this problem.

If you look closely at a photo of Tom Cruise’s smile, you’ll notice his front teeth are off-centered as well. I don’t know if that’s because his cosmetic dentist failed, Mr. Cruise wanted it that way, or his teeth shifted after his case was done. Any of those is possible.

Though Mr. Cruise has done quite well with his crooked smile, it doesn’t mean you have to keep yours. There is a chance another cosmetic dentist could put some pressure on your dentist to make this right. My suggestion is you see an expert cosmetic dentist (I’ll tell you how to find one momentarily) and have him look at your porcelain veneers. If he sees what you’re seeing, he could talk to your dentist. Sometimes a dentist is more likely to listen to a peer because they don’t want to look bad. You can choose whether or not to give him another chance to re-do the porcelain veneers or to just get a refund and see another dentist.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) started an accreditation program. It has both oral and written exams, as well as makes them demonstrate a large number of cases they’ve done to ensure they not only have technical skill but artistry.

It takes dentists years to reach accreditation level. Only 1% of dentists actually accomplish this. But, those dentists can give you a gorgeous smile. My first recommendation would be for you to get a second opinion from an AACD accredited dentist. It would be worth it for you to drive to another nearby city to get the beautiful smile you deserve. In fact, most of them even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

If there isn’t an AACD accredited dentist near enough for you to get to, check the mynewsmile.com website. They also recommend highly skilled cosmetic dentists. Not all are AACD accredited yet, but they’re highly skilled and on their way to accreditation.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.