Expert: Jeff Dalin DDS - 6/6/2006

Question
I am 26 years old guy, I live in Midwest USA, and I recently have 10 porcelain crowns done only on my upper jaw. I have the crowns because I have slight underbite, and the cosmetic dentist promises that after the crowns done, my bite will 99% look like any other normal bite that other people have from any angle you see my mouth. Even my upper teeth are perfectly healthy, I still go for the crowns because my bite will look normal. However, after the crowns put on, my underbite looks a little more normal when you see in front, but it is obviusly underbite when you see beside. I would say it is just 20% look like other normal bite. The outcome is totally different from what he promises.

If I know this is the outcome, I would definitely not go for it because I do not want to lose my healthy teeth and spend so much money. Even I have consulted the doctor so many times, he still promises me the same thing. His promise make me to go for the crowns.

Now, I felt so regret day after after. I feel so bad. Now, I am having braces on my lower teeth, and going for the jaw surgery later. I would always think, if the doctor does not lie me, I would definitely not consider the crowns. And I would go for the braces and jaw surgery earliest possibe.

I felt so painful everytime I think I have lost my 10 naturally healthy teeth just because of the porcelain crowns and the doctor's lie. I really do not like the doctor because he does not care that people's teeth are healthy, and you should remove them, and tell lies about the outcome.

My question is that anyway that I can get back my 10 natural teeth that I have lost? I really do not like my 10 porcelain crowns right now because they look so fake, unnatural, big and so on. Is that anyway that I can get rid of these crowns, and have more naturally teeth? Perhaps, my original teeth. Is there any anyway? All suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot.


Answer
Danny
I am very sorry to tell you that you cannot get back your natural teeth. Once they have been prepared for the crowns the enamel is gone. You cannot put it back. If you do not like the esthetics, your only options are to 1) accept them as is and be unhappy or 2) have them redone in a more esthetic manner. There are no other alternatives. Now, you just had them done. You can allow this dentist another chance to improve them. You can ask for a refund so that a different dentist can do them. You can have them redone and just pay once again. I have no ideas for you as to how to get the money back. That will have to be between you and him. And before you get them redone shop around for a dentist who does a lot of cosmetic work. As to see pictures of work he/she has done on other patients. Maybe even ask to speak with some of these patients. You just do not want to make the same mistake twice. You need someone who can deliver on his/her promises. Good luck,

Jeff Dalin, DDS