I got porcelain veneers. The temporaries felt fine, but when he put on the permanent ones something has gone wrong. My bite feels different and it hurts when I bite down. Plus it’s hard to speak because my tongue keeps bumping up on the back of them. I wonder if he made the backs too thick? I’ve come back a couple of times and he’s adjusted them, but it’s still not any better. I think he’s frustrated with me because the last time I called he said I’d get used to them. It’s been a few months and not only have I not gotten used to them and now I’m getting headaches, though that’s likely unrelated.
Paula L. – South Carolina
Paula,
Are you sure your dentist gave you porcelain veneers? Based on what you’ve said, it sounds more like your dentist gave you porcelain crowns instead. Porcelain veneers are only on the front of your teeth. Your tongue wouldn’t push up against the back of them. Even if they were made too thickly, it would only affect the fronts of your teeth. It’s crowns that surround your teeth.
I’m concerned about some of the things you mentioned as being problematic. The pressure on your bite worries me. If your bite shifts inappropriately, it can cause you to develop TMJ disorder. This can become quite painful and even lead to lockjaw. It also leads to headaches, which you’ve mentioned has recently become and issue for you.
It’s actually your dentist’s responsibility to repair this, but if he’s not following up on his duties, I’d go to a dentist with some expertise in TMJ and get a second opinion. At the least, if the original dentist messed up your bite, you should be able to get a refund and have the procedure done correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing.
I’d also like you to look at your bill to make sure of which procedure you were billed for. If he charged you for veneers and you received crowns, that’s fraud.
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