I have ten porcelain veneers. I’ve always loved them because I was finally able to smile without being embarrassed about my tetracycline stains. The other day, one of them broke and fell off. I went in to see my dentist, who is not the same dentist who did my veneers years ago, and he did a mediocre job of it. The tooth now feels uncomfortable. He’s suggesting that I replace it with a dental crown. He said that it would take a few days to get the replacement tooth. I feel like this is an emergency because the patch up job is obvious. I’m also wondering if I really need to replace it with a crown instead of getting another porcelain veneers.
Zoe
Zoe,
While not a typical dental emergency, a true cosmetic dentist will understand the concept of an aesthetic emergency. I don’t think you’re dentist is a skilled cosmetic dentist. I also don’t think that you should get a dental crown. The exception to this would be is if the tooth has damage that actually does need a dental crown. If that is not the case, then there is no reason why the porcelain veneer cannot be replaced.
My suggestion is that you see the original dentist who did your porcelain veneers. You seem to have been happy with them, and a case with tetracycline stains is pretty advanced. My guess is that he is an expert cosmetic dentist.
If it is impossible to see the original dentist, then I would look for a different dentist with more expertise than your current one. He is probably suggesting a dental crown because he does not have the training and skill necessary to do porcelain veneers. Rather than tell you that, he is instead suggesting a procedure that he is comfortable doing.
The best dentists will admit when they are in over their heads and suggest their patient see someone who has the skills their patient needs. That doesn’t mean you have to switch dentists. Instead, you would just go to see them for the necessary procedure.
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