I’ve been in tears for months and finally decided to see if there is something I can do about this. I spent close to $30,000 on a smile makeover. It looks awful. I have a small mouth. The dental crowns he gave me are so huge that I can barely close my mouth. The only thing I can compare it to is the claymation Wallace and Grommit. There are also some mini implants on my back teeth but those don’t feel quite right. One of them makes me think it moves when I bite down. I have spent so much money on this and I don’t know what to do from here. Do you have any advice?
Laura
Dear Laura,
For the benefit of those who have not heard of Wallace and Grommit I’ve posted a picture above. Let me say I am so sorry this happened to you. I’m going to take a guess that you had your family dentist do this instead of finding an expert cosmetic dentist. This isn’t your fault. Most patients do not realize that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Because of that, any dentist can do cosmetic work regardless of the amount of advanced training they have (or have not in most cases) received.
You’ll have to have this work redone. You have two things going for you in the possibility of getting a refund. One of the things you mentioned is the inability to close your mouth. This will lead to dry mouth, which in turn leads to decay. Our saliva is one of our best defenses against tooth decay because of the bacteria fighting minerals it has. To me that is a function issue worthy of a refund.
A second issue I am concerned about is the mini implants on your back teeth. Are these just supporting a partial denture, or are they trying to support a dental crown? If they are supporting crowns, they will not last long. They are not designed for that. The only good news about that is that gives you a second reason for a refund.
How to Find A Expert Cosmetic Dentist
In finding a dentist to help repair this smile makeover, I am going to suggest you look for an AACD accredited dentist. You can find them on aacd.com. These dentists have been tested and proven in both their technical skill as well as their artistry. Those who reach accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. That’s what you need.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.