In July 2022, I had a bottom right molar tooth break. I had not seen a dentist in the seven years prior, so I made an emergency appointment with a dentist near my job. He said the tooth was too damaged and decayed to save, so he recommended a crown. I made an appointment with the same dentist who placed a crown. I didn’t have any problems with the crown or my bite.
After a dental cleaning and a conversation with my new dentist in early December, I decided to do something about the rest of my misaligned, crowded, and worn teeth. The dentist explained that cosmetic dentistry could correct the issues without dentistry, so I agreed.
The dentist recommended cosmetic reshaping, dental bonding for my top left incisor and canine teeth, and two veneers. When my dentist finished the work, I noticed that he left a gap near the gumline above the porcelain veneers, which were too small. My teeth were still crowded and uneven, and the bonding was peeling, so I don’t know what kind of reshaping and bonding he did.
I told my dentist that the results were not what we agreed to, and I asked what he needed to do to achieve it. He said that I would need root canals and four crowns. Of course, I did not agree to the treatment because the dentist lied about what he could do.
A co-worker had Invisalign and recommended the cosmetic dentist who did her Invisalign and new crowns on her front teeth, which look natural to me, although I am not trained to know what to look for. Anyway, I scheduled a second opinion with the cosmetic dentist, and she said she recommends five veneers to correct the crowding and alignment. She thinks she can resolve the problems with veneers without root canal treatment or crowns.
I don’t know who to trust, but I would like to ask my previous dentist for a refund. And can just five veneers correct the misalignment issue, as the second dentist recommends? Thank you. Jessica
Jessica,
Although the dentist resolved your emergency with your broken tooth, he failed with your smile makeover. You deserve a refund because the dentist did not deliver what he promised and asked for more money to correct it.
Getting a Refund for Faulty Cosmetic Dentistry
Ask your dentist for a refund based on these facts:
- Your porcelain veneers are too small
- The issues with your teeth remain despite the dentist’s work
- Your dental bonding is peeling
If your previous dentist refuses to issue a refund, you can follow these steps:
- Find a skilled cosmetic dentist for your new dental work and ask if that dentist will help you request a refund
- Threaten to report the issue to the state dental board
- Seek legal advice
How to Find the Right Cosmetic Dentist
Although a cosmetic dentist can provide affordable work, you can still get quality results
A dentist’s ability to handle emergencies doesn’t automatically make them an artistic cosmetic dentist. Before you choose a dentist to correct your smile, find answers to these questions:
- Does your second-opinion cosmetic dentist have post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training?
- How many porcelain veneer cases has she completed?
- Did the new dentist show you porcelain veneers photos of her patients?
- What do patients say about the dentist’s work?
If you cannot verify that the second-opinion dentist is skilled in a cosmetic dentist, keep looking for a dentist with experience in smile makeovers.
Best wishes.
Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post.