Poor Cosmetic Dental Work

Patients undergo cosmetic treatments in order “to improve the color and shape of teeth,” but these treatments can be costly (Efrati 2004). For instance, people may pay between “$500-$1,300 per tooth” for veneers and between $500-$900 per crown (“What is Cosmetic Dentistry? Costs and Types”). To avoid poor dental work, patients should take time to research “their dentists’ credentials and complaint records with their state dental board and county dental association, ask about more conservative treatments, and get second and third opinions before major work” (Efrati 2004). However, they can still receive poor results, causing dentists or other dentists to fix these treatments.
Patients that receive poor cosmetic dental procedures may endure more problems later on.  Some of these problems include “permanent damage to teeth, roots and gums…” (Efrati 2004). For instance, people may undergo a poor orthodontic treatment plan that shifts the teeth’s position “too quickly,” leaving little time for the “roots and the periodontal tissues and bone structure around [the teeth]… to settle into their new positions. This means teeth may shift back out of alignment after orthodontic treatment is completed, or their roots may resorb into the jawbone, causing teeth to fall out” (“Fixing Bad Dental Work”). Also, patients that receive a substandard crown, bridge, or denture, risk damaging their teeth and oral tissues, possibly leading to tooth loss (“Fixing Bad Dental Work”).
Patients can address their poor dental work in a variety of ways. They can return to their dentist, who “should work with [the patient] to analyze the issue, devise a thorough plan, and work to repair the damage to [his or her] dental wellbeing” (Everett 2016; Mitchmore 2017). Dentists may have to provide a second treatment, which may include “teeth whitening and the placement of fillings, crowns, or veneers, to comprehensive treatment plans involving the replacement of a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire full arch of upper or lower teeth” (Everett 2016; Mitchmore 2017). Patients may also go to the state’s dental association for any disputes, “ask for a refund from their dentist,” “sue the dentist for malpractice,” or even go to another dentist to fix their poor dental work (Efrati 2004; Everett 2016).
Due to the consequences stemming from a patients’ poor dental treatments, dentists should avoid providing such work to their patients. Other dentists can earn revenue from fixing previous poor cosmetic dental work (Efrati 2004). However, dentist should have the education and experience in cosmetic procedures in order to prevent the occurrence of flawed results (Efrati 2004). With this education, dentists can not only provide cosmetic dental work for more profit, but also avoid harming the patients’ oral health in the long run (Efrati 2004).

Works Cited

Efrati, Amir. “New Business for Dentists: Fixing Botched Cosmetic Work.” The Wall Street

Journal. Last modified June 29, 2004. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108845349854349429.

Everett, Jonathan. “When Dental Work Doesn’t Work: Fixing Problems Caused by Subpar

Dentistry.” Washington Healthcare News, September 13, 2016. http://wahcnews.com/articles/09-2016/wa-jeverett-0916.php.

“Fixing Bad Dental Work.” Wright Implants. Accessed October 3, 2018.

https://www.wrightimplant.com/fixing-bad-dental-work/.

Mitchmore, Randy. “The Best Methods for Fixing Bad Teeth and Fixing Bad Dental Work In

Houston.” Teeth Tomorrow Houston Central, December 27, 2017. https://teethtomorrowhoustoncentral.com/blog/the-best-methods-for-fixing-bad-teeth-and-fixing-bad-dental-work-in-houston/.

“What is Cosmetic Dentistry? Costs and Types.” Crest. Accessed October 3, 2018.

https://crest.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/adults/what-is-cosmetic-dentistry-costs-types.