I Had One Of Two Porcelain Veneers Chipped And Replaced But Now They Don’t Match, What Are My Options?

Q.
Hello Dr I have two porcelain veneers on my front teeth. One veneer chipped and I had to have it replaced.
The dentist tried to convince me to have two replaced so they matched, but I just wanted one.
He said he was using the best lab, and he sent my old veneer to the lab so they could match it. He said they use U.V light etc.
As someone who is not a dentist or lab worker, i can see it is clearly darker than the other old veneer.
The dentist is more or less saying its normal etc, but I cant see why the lab would send out work that any idiot can see does not match the veneer they we’re sent.
Even the two old veneers we’re as good as a perfect match for my existing teeth, and the lab never saw them, and they could not get a match for something they did see…..
I feel that my dentist just gave allot of talk to make me think I had as good as it gets.
For £600 I feel I should expect at least a hardily noticeable.
difference.
He showed me how it looked before he stuck it into position, but did not offer me a mirror after it was in position.
I just think its all a bit unacceptable, but I would like to know if I have a case to ask for it to be changed?……
I would appreciate any help you could give me.

Thanks very much.

A.
Hello. It is extremely difficult to match one new porcelain veneer to an old one, no matter who makes it. In fact your dentist’s advice before beginning treatment was to have both replaced. However with a very skilled dental technician and Master Ceramist this is sometimes possible to get a very close match. Several adjustments can often be required by the Ceramist technican to get it ‘just right’. To put the fee you paid into perspective , this type of difficult matching of a veneer or crown is usually closer to £1500-£2000 with a lot of experienced cosmetic dentists for a single unit.

My first piece of advice would be to go and see the dental technician who made your veneer , to see if they can help ascertain why the match is not good enough for you. it could be something to do with the material used or the colour of the tooth underneath the porcelain. I would aslo try to find out from your dental records what the origianl porcelain veneers were made from; which type of porcelain and what shades and tints were used.

Try that first but if you are having no luck then maybe go and see an experienced cosmetic dentist for advice

Regards.

Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

Leave a Reply