I got veneers in January to conceal chips and small gaps between my teeth. I knew my teeth would be prepared, but I was surprised that my dentist ground my eight front teeth so much that they didn’t look like teeth anymore. I was almost in tears. I tried to convince myself that it would be okay because the veneers would cover my teeth anyway.

Imagine my horror when my first veneer fell off two weeks after getting them. The horrible-looking tooth behind it showed, so I avoided people and talked minimally. I’m glad I work from home, so most people didn’t see the tooth. My dentist bonded the porcelain veneer back on, but another veneer fell off within two weeks. My dentist doesn’t know why I’ve had problems with the veneers. She asked me if I wear my nightguard (I do) because my teeth grinding at night could be loosening the veneers. I’ve noticed that each of the six veneers that fell off has a ledge on the back. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.

I have an appointment with my dentist in two weeks for her to try something else, I’m unsure of her plan, but I am concerned about this. I have travel plans this summer and am concerned about when or where a veneer will pop off and whether or not I’ll be able to retrieve it.

I don’t want to return to my dentist but am unsure how to explain to her that I just want my money back. – Thank you. Leigh

 

Leigh,

We understand your frustration, disappointment, and concerns. Your experience is not normal.

The aggressive preparation of your teeth was for dental crowns, not porcelain veneers. Veneers only require a dentist to remove .5 millimeter or less of tooth enamel from the fronts of your teeth. If your dentist ground on your teeth until they were unrecognizable, she prepared your teeth for crowns, and you have dental crowns, not porcelain veneers. Hopefully, your dentist did not tell lead you to believe that you were getting porcelain veneers.

You have limited options because your dentist ground your teeth down to nubs. Even dental crowns will not stay on teeth that a dentist aggressively prepares. Although many dentists lack advanced training in porcelain veneers, dental schools teach crown preparation and how to ensure the crown stays on. Your dentist violated the standard of care and is liable for giving you crowns that do not function. Loose crowns allow bacteria in, leading to tooth decay.

Although your dentist can’t restore your tooth, she is liable for compensating you to have the work redone. We recommend looking for a dentist with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training. Schedule a consultation with the cosmetic dentist. He or she may be willing to contact your current dentist to help you get a refund.

If your dentist hesitates to refund you, report the issue to the state dental board, which you can find from an online search. You can also seek advice from a medical malpractice attorney.

Above all, we hope you find a smooth resolution to restoring your smile.

Sugar Land cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post. Read how Dr. Thomas provides patients with some of the best dental care in Sugar Land.