Archives for May 2020

Malpractice Smile Makeover

Posted on May 31, 2020 by writeradmin.

I feel like I’ve ruined my mouth and my hard-working husband’s finances. I had some chipped teeth and some other minor issues with my smile. I asked my dentist about possible fixes and she suggested I get a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. She said it is what the celebrities use to get their gorgeous smiles. My husband and I discussed it as it was a big chunk of change and decided to go ahead with it. I’ve regretted this decision ever since. I’m about to move and running out of time to get this fixed. Here are my problems:

1. The teeth (eight of them) were ground down to nubs. Disgusting little yellow nubs. This wouldn’t be such a big deal if it weren’t for the second problem.
2. They don’t stay on. In the course of this year, they have fallen off eleven times. One of them over a major holiday when I couldn’t get in to get them fixed. The humiliation of having those tiny, yellow nubs was almost unbearable.
3. She says I’m being too rough on them, but one of them fell out while I was eating pasta. How is that too hard?

Please tell me a way to get this to work. I’m worried after we move no one will help because it is another dentist’s problem.

Katy

Dear Katy,

I have to express how sorry I am for what has been done to you as well as the anguish you’re going through. It shouldn’t have happened. The good news is you have a pretty solid case for malpractice. Additionally, this can be fixed. The bad news is she has misled you and done some things which will affect the repair as well as how your teeth function for the remainder of your life.

Porcelain Veneers verss Porcelain Crowns

Based on your description, your dentist gave you porcelain crowns, not the veneers she said she would. I know that based on your description of the teeth being ground down to nubs. Look at the two pictures below:

This is what teeth look like when being prepped for porcelain veneers. There is minor removal of tooth enamel, around the width of a fingernail. This is not what you described.

This is closer to what you described and is the preparation for a porcelain crown. Yours may even be more aggressive than this. Here’s where she has done some permanent damage. We don’t currently have the ability to regrow tooth enamel. Because of that, even when this is repaired properly, you will always have to have porcelain crowns instead of the porcelain veneers you were told you were getting.

Here’s where some “good” news kicks in. First, she lied. You were told you were getting porcelain veneers, which incidentally is the go-to procedure for Hollywood celebrities, but instead received dental crowns.

Second, she’s had gross incompetence in her handling of the dental crowns. While smile makeovers, including the procedure of porcelain veneers, isn’t taught in general dental school and therefore isn’t a required knowledge for dentists, dental crowns are a staple. They should NOT be coming off at all, let alone as much as you’ve had them come off.

Her blaming you is unacceptable. You could have been eating steak and apples every day and your dental crowns should have stayed in place.

Getting this Fixed

She needs to pay to have this done correctly. I don’t want you just getting a refund, because it is very likely going to cost more than your original price. You can let her know up front what you want, but don’t get them fixed until you move. I want you under the care of a long-term provider for you.

After you get to your new location. I want you to look on the website for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (aacd.com) for an AACD accredited dentist. This is different from just being a member, so make sure you check the accredited dentist option. Accredited dentists are in the top of the cosmetic field and will give you a stunning smile.

If your current dentist refuses to make this right and you have to go to court, make sure to ask for additional money because giving you crowns instead of veneers has damaged your teeth and changed your care for the remainder of your life. I think her malpractice insurance will tell her to pay up quick, because if it ends up in court, you will likely get a substantial amount.

Again, I’m sorry this has happened to you. I don’t like dentists who give our practice a bad name either through incompetence or lack of ethics.

Keep your chin up. You will soon have a smile you will be proud of.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Do Dental Crowns Cause Dry Mouth?

Posted on May 30, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’m having a really hard time with dry mouth ever since getting all my teeth crowned. I know it was a cosmetic procedure, and while the teeth look okay, I have to really focus on keeping my mouth closed. Never in my life did I think I’d be what my kids call a “Mouth Breather.” Is there a way to fix this or is it normal and I’m just not used to a wider smile?

Kathy

Dear Kathy,

No this isn’t normal. Was there a particular reason your dentist did dental crowns instead of porcelain veneers. You mentioned it was cosmetic work. Generally, when someone is getting a smile makeover, porcelain veneers are the go-to. It removes less tooth structure.

Some inexperienced cosmetic dentists will do porcelain crowns for smile makeovers because that is what they’re familiar with, but it unnecessarily grinds down healthy tooth structure. It’s water under the bridge at this point as it is already done. I just wondered if there was a functional/mechanics reason for doing something so drastic. That leads me to my next question.
Why every tooth? Most smiles are about eight to ten teeth wide. Doing every tooth is excessive, not to mention expensive.

What your dentist did is known in dentistry as a full-mouth reconstruction. It’s an advanced procedure that isn’t typically taught in-depth, if at all, in dental school. Instead, dentists would seek out post-doctoral training.

Lip Incompetence is Dangerous

When you can’t close your lips naturally and are having to consciously force it, we call that lip incompetence. It is going to rain havoc on your teeth and oral health. While many people think brushing is our biggest defense against decay, the reality is our saliva has an even greater impact. It contains bacteria-fighting minerals that protect your teeth. Dry mouth deters saliva and allows that bacteria to multiply unhindered.

In creating this problem, y our dentist made a serious mistake. He (or she) needs to pay to get this fixed. Don’t just ask for a refund because the fix will likely be more expensive than the original procedure. If he complains about this, you may want to hint to him that another dentist told you that you have a valid case for malpractice damages. That should get his attention.

A Word about Smile Makeovers

You said the smile was “okay”. An okay smile would not be what you were stuck with when it came to a true cosmetic dentist. When you go to get this full mouth reconstruction done correctly, I want you to look for a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

AACD accredited dentists are in the top 1% in their field. Not only will you be able to close your mouth naturally and comfortably, but you’ll also have a stunning smile you will be thrilled to show off to the world.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

What If You Don’t Like Your Smile Makeover?

Posted on May 19, 2020 by writeradmin.

I wanted a smile makeover. I asked my dentist if he was a cosmetic dentist and he said no one is actually a cosmetic dentist they’re just dentists who did cosmetic work. He then asked what procedure I wanted. When I told him a smile makeover he told me that he could give me Lumineers. He showed me before and after pictures that looked good. When my porcelain veneers were first placed. I didn’t like them. I could tell that before they even put them on. They weren’t the right color. I told him that and he sent them back. When they came in the next time, I had a hard time seeing them on my teeth because they kept falling out. He assured me they could make adjustments after they were bonded on. It turned out that isn’t true. When I finally got a good look at them at home, I was super disappointed. First, they were whiter, but it had a chalky flat looking white, not a shiny one I was hoping for. Second, they are way bulkier than natural teeth. It was shortly after this that the quarantine started and his office closed. I called and left a message, but he hasn’t gotten back with me. I don’t know if that’s because his office is closed or he’s ignoring me. I’m hoping to get this fixed, but what if he’s actually just avoiding me? The answering machine does say they’re checking messages and will get back with us, but he hasn’t.

Carol

Dear Carol,

While technically your dentist is correct, there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, that doesn’t mean some cosmetic dentists aren’t more qualified than others. Doing smile makeovers aren’t taught in dental school. It is up to the dentist to invest the time and money into learning them well. It doesn’t sound like your dentist has done that based on what you’ve described.

Problem One

The first thing that caught my attention was his recommendation of Lumineers. This is a brand of porcelain veneers that is highly marketed, especially to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. They say that because they are considered easy to place as they are an ultra-thin and don’t necessarily require any tooth preparation. However, they have two big problems working against them.

The initial problem is the inexperience of the dentist. Some smiles will look fine without tooth prep. Others will look bulky. A second big issue with Lumineers is their lab. Unlike other brands of porcelain veneers, the company that produces Lumineers require dentists to use their lab, which isn’t known for its high-quality work. In fact, many expert cosmetic dentists would consider it sub-par.

I know your dentist showed you before and after pictures, but did he say they were HIS before and after pictures. They may have been stock photos.

Problem Two

A second big problem I noticed is that your dentist either doesn’t know or doesn’t care about temporary try-in paste. If he didn’t know, he has done practically zero training with cosmetic work. If it is, instead, that he doesn’t care, then he is definitely NOT a dentist you would want working on your smile. So you’ll be aware for next time, a temporary try-in paste allows you to get a good look at your porcelain veneers on your teeth for an extended period of time, without them having to be permanently bonded.

Problem Three

Finally, he told you he could make adjustments after they were bonded on. Cosmetic Dentistry 101 teaches you that is not possible. Again an indication he either doesn’t know he’s doing or he doesn’t care. The good news is this last issue works in your favor. He told you something that absolutely wasn’t true. I think this can help you get a refund.

So, once you’ve got that juicy refund in your hand, who should you go to in order to have a beautiful smile crafted for you? Ideally, you’d get an AACD accredited cosmetic dentist. They are at the top 1% of their field. If that isn’t possible, my next recommendation is you go to the website mynewsmile.com. They recommend expert cosmetic dentists in every area. A dentist cannot just pay to be listed. They have to provide their cosmetic dentistry training as well as visual evidence with before and after pictures of cases they’ve done themselves in order to prove their artistry. Any one of the dentists listed there can create a stunning smile for you. Many of them are on their way to accreditation, which is a process that can take many years.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Help! I Look Like Jim Carrey!

Posted on May 6, 2020 by writeradmin.

This quarantine has almost destroyed me. First, I tried to cut my own bangs which were almost down to the tip of my nose. Then, the other night I had WAY too much to drink and tripped, which resulted in chipping my front tooth. I seriously look like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. Help! My dentist still isn’t open but tell me there is a solution for this once he is. For now, I’m just going to hide indoors and ignore the doorbell. No one can see me like this.

Stephanie

Dear Stephanie,

Jim Carry in Dumb and Dumber

For the benefit of those who may not know Jim Carrey or the role he played in Dumb and Dumber, I’ve posted a picture above. Don’t feel too bad. This quarantine has been hard on us all. There are more than a few bad haircuts in the grocery stores these days. You’re also not the only one to hit the wine bottle either.

While a dentist can’t do anything about the cereal bowl haircut, you can certainly get that tooth repaired. The first thing the dentist will want to do is make sure there is no underlying damage to the pulp of the tooth from the trauma. If everything is okay there, the standard repair for a chipped tooth is dental bonding. This uses a composite resin that the dentist will sculpt on your tooth to make the tooth whole again. This is done freehand, so you don’t want your average dentist to do it. Dental bonding takes experience and artistry to make it look natural.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

Your family dentist may also be an expert dentist. Just make sure before having him work on your tooth. The top cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. This means they have passed stringent exams on the technical knowledge and procedural process in cosmetic work. In addition to that, they also had to submit visual evidence of a substantial number of cases they’ve personally done to be examined by a board of experts for the quality and beauty of their work. Any dentist who reaches accreditation is in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country.

What if Your Dentist Isn’t Accredited?

Just because your dentist isn’t accredited, doesn’t mean he can’t do beautiful work. This is a process which takes many years and there are some artistic dentists out there who are still in that process. I would first look to see if he is listed on the mynewsmile.com website. If not, then your next step would be to ask for before and after images of dental bonding cases he’s personally done. Don’t settle for stock photos. If you are not absolutely thrilled with the results, don’ t let him near your smile.

Expert cosmetic dentists are used to having patients come to them just for the one procedure and then staying with their family dentist when that is through. There is no shame in that. He’ll understand and your dentist should understand as well.

I hope this helps. Try to keep away from the booze for a while, you don’t want to end up needing dental implants. Hopefully, this whole Coronavirus mess will be over with soon. I know dentists are ready to get back to work!

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.