I had porcelain veneers placed several years ago to cover my tetracycline stains. This week, I had one on a front tooth that split into two pieces and fell off. My new dentist glued it back on temporarily and is planning on replacing it with a crown. I moved to a new state since getting the veneers. However, this dentist says he can’t even get to the temporary tooth for a couple of weeks. The repair is not well done, is uncomfortable and looks fake. First, do I have to have a crown because the veneer broke? Second, would this not be considered a dental emergency?
Allie
Dear Allie,
First, do not let this dentist put a dental crown on your tooth if it is still healthy. That would grind it down and is completely unnecessary. Plus, a crown on a front tooth will weaken the tooth. This may be a sign that your new dentist is not a skilled cosmetic dentist. When a dentist suggests crowns in place of porcelain veneers, it generally means they don’t know how to do veneers well enough to feel comfortable with them.
Don’t force his hand to do a veneer. You won’t like the results. This is especially true because yours are covering tetracycline stains. This is one of the more advanced cosmetic procedures and requires a great deal of post-doctoral cosmetic training, along with some natural artistry on the part of the dentist. I recommend either returning to the original dentist to get this replaced or seeing someone else closer to you. Because he or she is out of state and you’re wanting to hurry, you can look for a skilled cosmetic dentist in your area. Make sure they have advanced cosmetic training and also ask to see example cases they’ve done with tetracycline stains. They should have a smile gallery that showcases their work.
While technically not a dental emergency, most cosmetic dentists understand an aesthetic emergency and will make room in their schedule for you. It should not take several weeks.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.