I have been dealing with enamel hypoplasia for years. Now I have finally saved enough to do something about it. Can you tell me my treatment options from a completely objective perspective? I live in a completely different part of the country from your practice, so I feel confident asking someone who cannot profit from the procedure chosen. I hope that doesn’t offend you. I just find I am likely to receive more accurate information by those who don’t gain any pecuniary gain from it.
Sylvia
Dear Sylvia,
I am not offended in the least by your question. It is always wise to get an unbiased opinion on something. In fact, I often recommend when patients get a second opinion from a dentist, that they do not tell the second dentist who their dentist is. This way there is no pressure to agree with a peer that they consider a friend.
As to your question about hypoplasia, the treatment you get will depend on the severity of the damage. For those who are unaware of this condition, enamel hypoplasia is when the enamel of the tooth does not fully form. This can happen from a medication taken during the development of your teeth or from a genetic defect.
If you are dealing with the severe type of hypoplasia, then I recommend you have porcelain veneers placed. With this procedure, your dentist will place tiny wafers of porcelain over the teeth after some mild tooth preparation. This is also the standard procedure for patients who are looking for a complete smile makeover. It’s also the go-to for celebrities. So, if there was anything you wanted to change about your smile, including the shape, size, and color, this is the procedure to use.
If you are dealing with mild hypoplasia, then the solution would be to use either dental bonding or porcelain veneers. With dental bonding, the area with the damage is gently removed with microabrasion and then a composite bonding is placed on top of it and it will be polished to a high shine to match your teeth.
Both of these require someone with post-doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. Don’t go to any dentist. Plus, make sure you check out their smile gallery to see that they have an artistic eye and can produce beautiful results with the procedure you choose.
This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.