I got porcelain veneers on my upper 6 front teeth. Although I had 4 or 5 discussions with my dentist before I got the veneers, they are too short. My smile looks gummy. I was hoping that the veneers would lengthen the look of my teeth, but they don’t. My dentist says they look fine and he did the best he could with my little teeth. Isn’t that rude? I’m beginning to think that porcelain veneers weren’t the right choice and maybe something else would have looked better. Did I agree to the wrong thing? Kasside
Kasside – Your dentist’s comments weren’t appropriate. It sounds like the real issue is not your agreement to receive porcelain veneers, as much as it is the dentist who placed them. It seems that your dentist has little or no training in cosmetic dentistry.
Porcelain veneers can change the shape of your natural teeth and lengthen them. There are other ways to lengthen the appearance of your teeth, but it’s not clear if you were presented with your options.
- Gum recontouring – A laser is used to remove excess gum tissue, which lengthens your teeth.
- Dental bonding – An expert cosmetic dentists knows how to mix dental bonding to match the color and translucence of your natural teeth. Teeth can be lengthened and made to look completely natural.
Before you received porcelain veneers, an expert cosmetic dentist would have ensured that your teeth were symmetrical. Unfortunately, to achieve the smile you want, your current veneers will need to be removed and replaced.
Speak with your dentist and ask if he is willing to correct his work and give you a smile that you’re happy with. It might be in your best interests to get a second opinion from an accredited cosmetic dentist who will have the education and talent to produce great results. Your current dentist might be willing to compensate you in some way if you want the work done elsewhere.
This post is sponsored by Chatham, NJ accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.