I am so frustrated. I had two dental crowns placed on my front teeth due to an accident. My dentist struggled with getting them to match the shape and character of my other teeth and decided to send me to a prosthodontist to complete my case because they are “experts”. The first pair of crowns he did were so opaque it looked like someone glued chicklet gum pieces to my teeth. I asked for them to be redone. For the second set, he suggested I use dental sedation because my previous appointment was a tad difficult. I agreed. The set ended up looking gray next to the rest of my teeth and make all my other teeth look darker than they are. He insists I approved them before he bonded them on. I barely remember the procedure because of the sedation so I have no idea whether I actually approved them or not. I want him to do a third pair. However, he said I can either have one of the two pairs he already made (that I’ve already paid the fee for) or he can charge me for a brand new pair. What do I do?
Cyndy
Dear Cyndy,
Let’s start with the sedation. When you are sedated, you are not in any position to give informed consent. How in the world would he expect you to make a decision about a permanent tooth replacement when you are not even lucid enough to drive? So yeah, giving “approval” under sedation does not count.
Your bigger problem is the attitude of this dentist. He apparently does not care what the results of his work look like and whether or not his patients are satisfied about their work. The fact that he is a prosthodontist likely adds to his arrogance. They take an extra two years of training which makes them think they know best. However, that training is in the mechanics of dental crowns and not in appearance-related dentistry.
Dentists who have invested in post-doctoral cosmetic training have a completely different mindset. If you’re not thrilled with how your teeth look, they would never pressure you into accepting them. Matching front teeth is very tricky and it will take a dentist with the willpower to make sure he matches things exactly. It will probably take a few try-ins, but he or she will not be angry about that. Their goal is to achieve the best results possible and aesthetics matter to them. In fact, most of them have a beautiful smile guarantee.
Where To Go From Here
First, do not let this prosthodontist do any more work on you. Period. He doesn’t care about you. I doubt he even has the skills to match these teeth. You will want to find an expert cosmetic dentist. My suggestion is to look for someone who has been accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country. Their results will be beautiful.
They may be able to help you secure a refund as well. That will depend on how far off the color is. In this case, your prosthodontist being bad at his job may work in your favor. I’ve linked a post from an excellent retired dentist which shows you ways to improve your chances of getting a refund. This site can also help you locate a fantastic cosmetic dentist near you.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.