Dr. Hall,
About 1 1/2 years ago I had nine front teeth replaced by a “cosmetic” dentist. One front central tooth broke in April and now a second tooth has fallen off. I am awaiting replacement on Monday. The replacement tooth in April my dentist’s assistant ordered was incorrect in color and shape which the dentist tried to reshape.
I have no confidence in this Dentist or assistant. I know Dr. Smith uses a plastic/porcelain mixture as his advertisement states porcelain crowns prone to fracture. And Dr. Jones [not their real names] has good credentials.
I would appreciate your input please on both these dentists & is resin/porcelain effective?
Thank you,
Jeanne from Florida
Jeanne,
Unfortunately, the law allows this term “cosmetic dentist” to be tossed around pretty loosely. I can find no evidence, in my sources, of any significant credentials in cosmetic dentistry for either dentist you mention. But because cosmetic dentistry isn’t a legally separate specialty they can make claims to being cosmetic dentists. That’s why I maintain this web site – to help steer people around this confusion.
And I can only guess at what your dentist means by “plastic/porcelain mixture,” as this is unusual terminology. My guess is that he is referring to composite, and if this is the case, it is a poor substitute for porcelain. It is weaker, not nearly as long-lasting, and much more susceptible to staining. But it is easier to work with and less expensive to fabricate.
Porcelain or ceramic crowns, done right, are NOT prone to fracture and are the most beautiful restorations in dentistry today. Done right and maintained properly, they are practically impervious to staining and they don’t break.
Dr. Hall
Helpful links:
Porcelain crowns
Care of porcelain veneers
GlamSmile veneers are cheap, but are they good?
Click here to find a cosmetic dentist.
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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