the Price of Cosmetic Dentistry

I received a complete upper dental smile makeover, including 4 ceramic crowns, 6 porcelain veneers, and a minor surgical procedure to alter the contour of the gumline. The gumline contour was performed first, and then two weeks later, I spent 6 hours in the chair having temporary crowns and veneers made. Three weeks later, I came back to have the permanent veneers and crowns placed. I don't know what the cost breakdown was, because my dentist just charged a round number for the entire makeover.

As it turns out, the procedure to alter the gumline did not work. The gum area that was removed soon filled itself in, reverting the gumline to its original contour. Wearing the temporary veneers and crowns resulted in an unbelievable amount of sensitivity and discomfort, and while this period was only supposed to last a week, the person who works at the lab and makes the crowns and veneers went on vacation, so I ended up wearing the temporaries for three unpleasant weeks. My smile looks okay now, definitely better than my old, oddly-shaped and discolored teeth, but it's nowhere near how it could have been. For ten thousand dollars, I feel like I should have an absolutely perfect smile, but instead it's just okay.

The procedure itself wasn't too uncomfortable. My dentist is very good about using as much novocaine as it takes to deaden the nerves. Her office is staffed with friendly, well-qualified women.

If I were to do this again, I would definitely communicate better about what I expected my smile to look like. I'd bring plenty of photographs and/or drawings to illustrate just how I wanted my teeth to be shaped.

I'd also look for a dentist that has an on-site lab, so that I could have the permanent crowns and veneers placed the same day, eliminating the need to wear the uncomfortable temporaries.

I would also ask my dentist for some references and some before-and-after photos of work she herself had performed.