I needed a crown on a front tooth. My dentist suggested a CEREC crown because it could be done in one day, but I’d heard that they don’t look good on front teeth, so I asked for a traditional crown. The temporary crown didn’t really match, but he assured me that the temporary crowns would always be worse than the permanent crowns and when they came in it would be a perfect match. When the crown came in, I never really got to see it before it was bonded in. Once I got to look at it I realized (to my horror) that it didn’t really match the tooth next to it. I mentioned that and he said it “looked fine to him” plus it was already bonded so it couldn’t be removed. Then, a few weeks later the permanent crown, that “couldn’t be removed” fell out. I went back to my dentist suggesting that this would be a good time to improve the appearance. He then said that, “While he could redo it, he would have to charge me for it because I have a functional crown.” Otherwise, he could just bond this back on for free. I was so frustrated. Now it has fallen out again. I’m sure he is going to give me the same choice again. Do you have any recommendations for me?

Greta

Dear Greta,

The one good thing you have going for you is that the dental crown is not staying in. The dental board considers the standard of care functional. While you, unfortunately, would not have any recourse because the crown does not match your teeth, you do have the right to ask for a refund when it does not stay in. Despite what your dentist said, you do not have a functioning crown if it does not stay in your mouth. That is exactly what I think you should do.

Not only has this dentist shown himself to be unethical in how he misinformed you about the temporary versus permanent crown, he also cannot get the dental crown to stay. Do not allow them to do any more work on you. Instead, tell him you want a complete refund. Your crown is not functional. This is the second time it has fallen out.

When you go to get your crown replaced, I want you to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. Matching a tooth to a front tooth is more challenging than for other teeth because the light hits them directly which reveals all the nuances of the teeth. A truly skilled cosmetic dentist would do a temporary try-in to make sure it perfectly matches the adjacent teeth. If not, they would make notes about what changes need to be made and then send them back to the lab to be redone. He or she would not be satisfied, nor would they bond the crown in, until you are completely satisfied.

My suggestion is that you go to an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosemtic dentists in the country. They will give you a gorgeous crown that completely blends in with its adjacent teeth.

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