My dentist told me he could do porcelain veneers for my six upper front teeth and I was so excited to get started on the mini-smile makeover. After a lot of frustration and disappointment, I’m stuck trying to at least get some of my money back because I hate them and they need to be re-done. They are bulky, uncomfortable and they look awful. The problem? My dentist doesn’t agree and insists they are perfect and fit just right. How in the world does he know? They are not in his mouth! What’s even worse is he won’t make any adjustments so I had to find another dentist who would trim them down a bit. They still don’t look right, but when I tried to go back to my original dentist again, he basically said I am obsessed and just need to get used to them. What can I do to make him understand and refund me some of my money? — Mark
Mark,
I’m so sorry for your experience. Unfortunately, what you are experiencing is not uncommon when it comes to general dentists who think they can do cosmetic work like porcelain veneers. We hear from so many patients who are frustrated that their dentist says their smile looks just fine, even when the patient says it doesn’t. Only you can know what feels comfortable and what doesn’t.
For the most part, dental school teaches the mentality that “the dentist” always knows best and that type of attitude is not conducive to cosmetic dentistry. A skilled cosmetic dentist listens to what patients want and actually asks for feedback throughout the process. It’s just what they are trained to do. They are passionate about creating, not just fixing things and only about one or two percent are really good at it.
What you need is a true cosmetic dentist who will go the extra mile to make sure you are absolutely in love with your new smile. In fact, many will offer a beautiful smile guarantee. As for pursuing the refund, try to be as nice about it as you can. Maybe see if your new dentist can jump in and help you – your old dentist might be more open to listening to what he or she has to say. Good luck!
This blog post is brought to you by Des Moines cosmetic dentist, Dr. Phelan Thomas. For more information on the services he provides, please visit his Des Moines cosmetic dentist website.
