I was planning on just getting one porcelain veneer for a tooth which has always bothered me. It’s always been darker than the other teeth. Originally, my dentist wanted to do a dental crown, but I didn’t want to grind the tooth down. He agreed to do the porcelain veneer. When it came in, it looked very fake. I told him not to put it on until I think about what to do. I don’t think this will be an improvement. So, I started doing some research and I keep reading you should never get a single porcelain veneer. Instead, you have to get two. Did I make a mistake by trying to get one? Should I have gotten the porcelain crown?
Maureen
Dear Maureen,
The problem you have isn’t in choosing to do a porcelain veneer, it’s in having the wrong dentist try to do it. It is extraordinarily hard to match a single porcelain veneer to a front tooth. It takes an expert cosmetic dentist, but it can be done.
If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think your dentist could have matched the porcelain crown either. It takes just as much expertise when it comes to a front tooth regardless. I suggest you finish this procedure with another dentist.
Finding an Expert Dentist
The problem you are facing is cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. Any dentist can say they do cosmetic work — and they might. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing how good they are.
If you need to find an expert cosmetic dentist, you have to do a lot of research on where the dentist did their post-doctoral training and checking out examples of the work they’ve done. That’s a lot of work and a patient wouldn’t necessarily know what to look for.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry realized that and started an accreditation program to give patients some way of knowing whether or not the dentist can do a good job. If a dentist wants to be accredited, they have to pass stringent exams as well as demonstrate their artistry. In your place, I’d look for an AACD accredited dentist.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.