I had four porcelain veneers done. The thing that has me worried is they appear to be away from the tooth at the top a little bit. It’s almost like there is a little shelf there. My dentist insists it is nothing to worry about because no one can see that part when I smile. I just can’t help noticing there is a ledge there. I keep running my tongue and finger over it. Is she right that it is nothing to worry about?

Lana

Dear Lana,

Appearance is not the issue here. Though, just because someone can’t see something, does not mean YOU would not want it to look good. I’m sure your dentist changes his or her sheets, even though no one sees them. However, there is a bigger issue here and your dentist is not right about this being okay.

That ledge you are feeling is because the porcelain veneers are not flush against your gums. That ledge will cause problems. Serious problems. Food and other bacteria will become trapped in the ledge and become a breeding ground for decay and gum disease.

Maybe your dentist does not want to re-do the porcelain veneers, but he or she needs to. If they’re not willing to, then ask for a refund and then go to another dentist, preferably one who cares about your oral health.

Under normal circumstances, if your porcelain veneers are functional, it wouldn’t matter what they looked like. You would not be able to get a refund on your veneers no matter how much you hated them unless your dentist cared enough about your opinion to offer one.

As odd as it sounds, you are fortunate your dentist messed up this badly. Because they left your margins open, putting your teeth at risk, they cannot be considered functional. If it were just that you didn’t like how they looked, that is not considered malpractice. But with open margins, your dentist is liable and gives you much more leverage to get a refund.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.