POSTED UNDER Porcelain Veneers REVIEWS
My 27 Year Dream Finally Comes True...or maybe not.
ORIGINAL POST
Here's my story... I was born with really small...
RedPersianKittyOctober 14, 2015
$13,500
Here's my story...
I was born with really small teeth with large spaces between the front 6 teeth and extremely pointy canine teeth - I looked like dracula. Braces would not correct the gaps - they were too large. I never could afford veneers so I chose to get the front 4 bonded - they've been bonded for most of my life. The bonding was always chipping and breaking off plus my teeth were so discolored that I decided to go with veneers.
April 2015 - Consultation with the dentist in Orlando, FL. She recommended 10 veneers and Crown Lengthening Procedure.
May 2015 - Had the Crown Lengthening Procedure with Dr. Lee in Orlando, FL. This was moderately painful. I had never heard of this procedure but am so glad the dentist recommended it. I never knew how uneven my gums were.
June 2015 - The day I got my temporaries. Crown Lengthening Procedure healed and I am ready for temporaries. It took 7 hours of prepping my teeth. Once the temps were put in, the dentist warned my not to look too closely because they would look strange - especially since they are made from acrylic. She wasn't kidding. I HATED THEM when I first looked in the mirror. Seriously, I wanted to die when I saw them. What had I done? However, after 3 days I started to like them. Over the next month I had my bottom teeth whitened and had to wear the temporaries.
July 2015 - After a month of wearing temporaries, I finally got my veneers. Removing the temporaries wasn't too bad and I had no bleeding because I had done the flossing technique for 2 weeks prior at least 2 times a day. It was on this day that I realized I was getting both veneers and crowns. Whatever - it didn't matter to me. I just wanted a new smile. About 5 hours into my visit I finally had a new smile. I was so happy!
However, once I got home and could finally open my mouth, I noticed black spaces between the top 4 teeth where my gums didn't fill in to meet the teeth. Otherwise known as black triangles. The teeth looked HUGE to me and were really fat. The next day I spoke to the dentist and she said to come in after 1 week and she would look at them. One week later - she looked at them and was not happy. Sooooo.... she told me to give it 4 weeks to see if my gums would grow in and fill the black triangles so that is what I did.
September 2015 - One LOOOOOONG month later. I wish I could've been put in a self-induced coma during this time so I wouldn't have had to look at my teeth. However, I went back to the dentist and she made the decision to remove the 4 front veneers and she placed temporaries back on. It was time for a re-do. 3 weeks later, the dentist called me and the lab requested that the dentist lower my margins in order for the new veneers to be 'perfect'. So I went BACK IN and the dentist removed my 2nd set of temporaries, lowered my margins, and put new temporaries back on. I absolutely hated the new temps - but after 3 days I started to like them.
October 14 - I still have the temps on the front 4 teeth. At this point - I would love to keep the temporaries for the rest of my life and live happily ever after. I love my dentist and am blessed to have the best dentist that wants to make sure I am happy; however, this has been the most traumatizing thing I have ever gone through emotionally. I have more selfies and pictures of my teeth on my phone than I do of my kids. My family is sick of hearing about my teeth and tell me to quit obsessing over it. I have dreams every night about my teeth and I am always analyzing people's teeth now when I see them. I am at the point where I need to remove every mirror in my home.... and probably every store I go into as well. I have looked at every picture on the internet of anyone that has ever had veneers or crowns. I have become obsessed - it has consumed me.
I do not regret my decision, I just wish the process was much easier. How did the lab mess up my front 4 veneers so badly the first time and who knows if I will like the new ones? The one good thing is I do like the 3 crowns that I have on each side - it's the front 4 that have scarred me for life. Ugh. It's only teeth, right?!
Thanks for listening. :-)
I was born with really small teeth with large spaces between the front 6 teeth and extremely pointy canine teeth - I looked like dracula. Braces would not correct the gaps - they were too large. I never could afford veneers so I chose to get the front 4 bonded - they've been bonded for most of my life. The bonding was always chipping and breaking off plus my teeth were so discolored that I decided to go with veneers.
April 2015 - Consultation with the dentist in Orlando, FL. She recommended 10 veneers and Crown Lengthening Procedure.
May 2015 - Had the Crown Lengthening Procedure with Dr. Lee in Orlando, FL. This was moderately painful. I had never heard of this procedure but am so glad the dentist recommended it. I never knew how uneven my gums were.
June 2015 - The day I got my temporaries. Crown Lengthening Procedure healed and I am ready for temporaries. It took 7 hours of prepping my teeth. Once the temps were put in, the dentist warned my not to look too closely because they would look strange - especially since they are made from acrylic. She wasn't kidding. I HATED THEM when I first looked in the mirror. Seriously, I wanted to die when I saw them. What had I done? However, after 3 days I started to like them. Over the next month I had my bottom teeth whitened and had to wear the temporaries.
July 2015 - After a month of wearing temporaries, I finally got my veneers. Removing the temporaries wasn't too bad and I had no bleeding because I had done the flossing technique for 2 weeks prior at least 2 times a day. It was on this day that I realized I was getting both veneers and crowns. Whatever - it didn't matter to me. I just wanted a new smile. About 5 hours into my visit I finally had a new smile. I was so happy!
However, once I got home and could finally open my mouth, I noticed black spaces between the top 4 teeth where my gums didn't fill in to meet the teeth. Otherwise known as black triangles. The teeth looked HUGE to me and were really fat. The next day I spoke to the dentist and she said to come in after 1 week and she would look at them. One week later - she looked at them and was not happy. Sooooo.... she told me to give it 4 weeks to see if my gums would grow in and fill the black triangles so that is what I did.
September 2015 - One LOOOOOONG month later. I wish I could've been put in a self-induced coma during this time so I wouldn't have had to look at my teeth. However, I went back to the dentist and she made the decision to remove the 4 front veneers and she placed temporaries back on. It was time for a re-do. 3 weeks later, the dentist called me and the lab requested that the dentist lower my margins in order for the new veneers to be 'perfect'. So I went BACK IN and the dentist removed my 2nd set of temporaries, lowered my margins, and put new temporaries back on. I absolutely hated the new temps - but after 3 days I started to like them.
October 14 - I still have the temps on the front 4 teeth. At this point - I would love to keep the temporaries for the rest of my life and live happily ever after. I love my dentist and am blessed to have the best dentist that wants to make sure I am happy; however, this has been the most traumatizing thing I have ever gone through emotionally. I have more selfies and pictures of my teeth on my phone than I do of my kids. My family is sick of hearing about my teeth and tell me to quit obsessing over it. I have dreams every night about my teeth and I am always analyzing people's teeth now when I see them. I am at the point where I need to remove every mirror in my home.... and probably every store I go into as well. I have looked at every picture on the internet of anyone that has ever had veneers or crowns. I have become obsessed - it has consumed me.
I do not regret my decision, I just wish the process was much easier. How did the lab mess up my front 4 veneers so badly the first time and who knows if I will like the new ones? The one good thing is I do like the 3 crowns that I have on each side - it's the front 4 that have scarred me for life. Ugh. It's only teeth, right?!
Thanks for listening. :-)
UPDATED FROM RedPersianKitty
My finals came in today!
RedPersianKittyOctober 27, 2015
Well, my finals came in and the dentist just sent me this picture. I'm excited and nervous at the same time because they look so big! I've always had super tiny teeth. I have to schedule a time to go in and have them placed. I will keep everyone posted!
Replies (17)
October 27, 2015
They look great!
October 27, 2015
Thank you, dk. Let's just hope my gums fill in where they are supposed to this time. :)
October 27, 2015
awsome! they look great! I don't think they are to big at all!
October 28, 2015
Thanks, Brandon. My son told me they needed to be big to go in my big mouth! Lol I sure needed a good laugh.
October 27, 2015
Yes agreed, those do look really nice!
I have a real good feeling that it's going to work out perfect. Lord knows you have been patient! Can't wait to see the final results!
I have a real good feeling that it's going to work out perfect. Lord knows you have been patient! Can't wait to see the final results!
October 28, 2015
Thank you SO much, BigM. I am mentally exhausted from this as well as all of us on here!
October 28, 2015
Me too.
Dentist told me she would fix any issues I have.
One of my crown's fitting is just slightly off,... I think I mentioned it in an earlier post?
I was very relieved when she said "we're taking a 6 week break....."
Was supposed to finish 3 root canals today, but after almost 3 weeks of dentistry?
I totally needed a break.
Dentist told me she would fix any issues I have.
One of my crown's fitting is just slightly off,... I think I mentioned it in an earlier post?
I was very relieved when she said "we're taking a 6 week break....."
Was supposed to finish 3 root canals today, but after almost 3 weeks of dentistry?
I totally needed a break.
October 28, 2015
Omg I need a break from all of this so badly... But yours sounds like much more work than mine! I can't imagine. I'm going on vacation next week to forget everything for a while. Then when I get back I will have my final crowns placed.
October 28, 2015
That sounds like an awesome plan!
Too much anything is not good.
Have a great vacation, enjoy yourself and keep us updated!
Too much anything is not good.
Have a great vacation, enjoy yourself and keep us updated!
October 28, 2015
Thank you! I sure will. I'm going tomorrow to take a quick peek at my final crowns. I'm so worried about the color being off. Ugh!!!
October 28, 2015
Thank you! :) If not, next I will have gum replacement surgery. Lol Is there even such a thing?!
November 11, 2015
I think posting an update will help you.
November 11, 2015
I don't have any good daylight photos yet. I'm sorting through all the ones I took today. :)
UPDATED FROM RedPersianKitty
My redo. :)
RedPersianKittyNovember 11, 2015
So today I had my front four crowns redone. It started out great! Temps were removed, I felt so good because the dentist used a machine that makes sure that the new crowns/veneers match the previous ones. The dental assistant said she was going to send the new crowns back to the lab if they weren't a match. They were a match! I was so relieved because that was my biggest concern as well as the black triangles between the teeth.
So the temporaries were removed and my teeth and gums were prepped. She temporarily put on the crowns and they looked amazing.... So amazing I cried.
Then it was time to cement them. This took awhile because one of the crowns wasn't sitting right so some of the gum had to be contoured. This may have been the case on the other teeth but I'm not sure.
Once everything was all done I made my 1 week follow up appointment and I went to my car. Immediately I noticed the color of the new 4 crowns up front was off. They weren't as white as the 3 crowns on each side of the new ones. I immediately went back to the dentist and she said the dark color was a 'hue' that was reflecting from my gums being so dark and bloody.
I am posting pics but they are not great since the lighting is horrible.
So the temporaries were removed and my teeth and gums were prepped. She temporarily put on the crowns and they looked amazing.... So amazing I cried.
Then it was time to cement them. This took awhile because one of the crowns wasn't sitting right so some of the gum had to be contoured. This may have been the case on the other teeth but I'm not sure.
Once everything was all done I made my 1 week follow up appointment and I went to my car. Immediately I noticed the color of the new 4 crowns up front was off. They weren't as white as the 3 crowns on each side of the new ones. I immediately went back to the dentist and she said the dark color was a 'hue' that was reflecting from my gums being so dark and bloody.
I am posting pics but they are not great since the lighting is horrible.
Replies (2)
November 11, 2015
She is right about the gums and that they maybe reflecting a different color. You and your gums definately need a rest from this traumatic experience. You and your teeth are beautiful! Can you believe, all of this for lil black triangles?!
Soon you will feel back to normal.
Drink lots of water and take your anti-inflammatory.(Advil?)
Are you in any pain?
Soon you will feel back to normal.
Drink lots of water and take your anti-inflammatory.(Advil?)
Are you in any pain?
November 11, 2015
Traumatic is def the right word, dk. I may still have a couple of small black triangles but not sure yet because of the gums. But nothing like the black triangles before! I'm not in any pain at all and the bite is good. But you're right, I need to take Advil right now! I do need a break. I'm thinking about removing the mirrors out of my house! Lol
Replies (38)
Thanks so much for sharing your story. You're in the right place to obsess and just get any support you might need, especially if your family is a bit worn out talking about it.Â
It sounds like this has been quite a process and I hope after all this you'll be happy with your results. I look forward to your updates.Â
I can't wait to see your final outcome!!!!
Loved the pics.
I've only been without my permanents for a week and a 1/2 maybe?
But it feels like so much longer. Ugh!
I feel for you.
I can only imagine the anticipation you are undergoing? :(
Seems like it's taking so long to get your permanent crowns / veneers re-manufactured?
Please excuse my ignorance because I am very new to this type of cosmetic procedure.
Of course I've had my fill of crowns on premolars & molars.
But, I found out I'm a teeth grinder / clincher?
Also I am an obsessive brusher.
(We have horrible family genetics, when it comes to teeth).
Knowing that, I've been paranoid and have brushed away a lot of my enamel.
I had no choice but to do new crowns.
If not? I risk the chance of losing front teeth eventually. Yikes!!
It was not really something that I was too concerned about until I went for a recent check up and the doctor explained how severe it was if I did nothing about it.
I started looking through old photos from 10-15-15 years ago and I realized I've lost maybe like three fourths of the length of my teeth?
So I'm right in the middle of the process of getting my permanents put on tomorrow. (Fingers crossed).
Reading some of experiences here on this site has got me a little concerned.
I will most definitely update you with my progress soon.
I just registered on this site around the same time I went to the dentist two weeks ago. So have yet to upload any before and after pics, and my whole experience.
So far it's been a very pain-free experience compared to past procedures.
But I'm far from done, so we shall see?
Best of luck, I'll keep in touch, God bless!
Heading in today though get crowns on. Definitely will post the whole adventure here on real self.
I have to say it's going pretty good so far.
Got 6 crowns put on 6 top front teeth today ( 30-45 min. procedure ).
They look fantastic!
Can tell that it's going to take a minute to get used to.
But I'm used to dental work and know that it takes a while for the brain to adapt.
There is however one tiny gap behind one of the two front main teeth (on my left).
Not sure if the lab is at fault, or if my doctor didn't cement it in tight enough?
It's right at the gum line behind, yet all other crowns are right up against the gum line.
As mentioned in my earlier comments, I am actually friends with the dental assistant that works at this particular dentist's office,... which has turned into a cool friendship with the actual dentist herself.
While talking to a few other people today that have went through this procedure already..... I've gotten feedback from a few folks giving me advice, saying "the gum line will come down and meet the top of the crown."
I disagree with that and I know this is not normal.
But reality is, nothing's perfect.
That's life.
It's probably a simple mistake from the lab that will be fixed free of charge.
Not too concerned about it as have another app. tomorrow and I'll mention it to her.
She is very accommodating and I know she'll fix it.
One thing that is kinda bothering me (hurting) is from oral surgery last week (2 top wisdom teeth extracted).
There is a fine razor sharp glass like piece of tooth that must of got left behind...?
We all know this happens with extractions. But it is starting to irritate my healing gum and seems to be inhibiting the healing properly.
It was was a sedated / twilight surgery, but I was awake and coherent the whole time.
2 days ago I started noticing it.
It was done by a separate oral surgeon and he must have missed it.
The procedure itself was done with absolutely no pain at all.
But now that this small thin glass like piece of tooth is really bothering me.
Everyday has its own issues, I'll worry about it tomorrow and update you guys.
Thanks for the encouragement, and the well wishes. Still have a few more things in my treatment to take care of and of course adjustments so what's going on currently. Updates on the way!
It sounds like you have a great dentist! They are hard to find. I think we are in the minority as far as liking our dentist and finding a good one that we can trust.
Hopefully you can get your wisdom teeth squared away. That must really hurt! Ive never had my wisdom teeth removed.
Keep us posted on how your follow up appointment tomorrow goes! :)