Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Cosmetic Failures

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, April 19, 2004

STORY:  COSMETIC FAILURES

Extreme makeovers can be costly in more ways than just the bank account. Before dental patients give their consent to extensive treatment, they should do their homework. Dr. Linda Niessen looks at one case of cosmetic dentistry that was a failure in this Dental Health Check.

Sandee Jones spent five years and about 20-thousand dollars trying to fix the problems created by bad cosmetic dentistry. “I’ll just put crowns on them and you’ll be good to go,” her dentist had said. Sandee had 12 crowns placed on her upper teeth, a decision she felt the dentist pressured her into making.

“He (the dentist) said what do you think and I said they are too small. I said I can feel something’s not right. And he said you’ll get used to them.”

Dr. Susan Hollar, a dentist with extensive training in cosmetic dentistry, came to Sandee’s rescue. She removed the porcelain crowns that were too small, leaking, and causing major decay problems. “I don’t think a patient should ever feel pressured. I think a patient should do something like this because they are ready and feel comfortable and confident in the dentist.” Dr. Hollar suggests patients check out the credentials of the dentist before agreeing to any cosmetic procedure. “But it’s important for the patient to see work that the dentist actually did.”

Here are some reasons to be cautious: when you feel there is a sales pitch; or if there’s pressure to do the work quickly; or when the dental staff pushes financing and jumps at the chance to check your credit; if the treatment plan is more extensive than you thought it would be; or if the dentist rushes you out of temporary crowns into permanent crowns.

“If I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldn’t have.” said Susan.
  
Never make a decision until you get all your questions answered. And don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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