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Cosmetic dentistry?
Okay, so when I was 10 (I'm 26 now), I fell off my bike and broke my two front teeth straight across in half. My dentist put a bonding on each one, and it made them look a little too long, and over the years a small stain has started showing along the seam of one, but they work just fine as teeth and nobody really notices that they're not perfect. Now that I'm an adult I have another dentist who's recommended that I have the existing bonding (and what's left of the teeth) replaced with porcelain crowns... the length would be more natural, and they'd possibly use a brighter color and whiten the rest of my teeth to match it. It'd be more permanent and look better, but I'm really struggling with it because it seems like such a cosmetic thing to do and I've always fought against that sort of thing, it seems vain. Like, I'd NEVER have cosmetic surgery, so why do it for my teeth? I know I'm way overthinking this... most people would have had it done years ago. My teeth bug me but fixing them bugs me too. What would you recommend?
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Hey there,
Well from my prospective I would do it here is why; I was born without enamal in my teeth, so my teeth were always yellowy and broke / needed fillings/root canals for years. Finally when I turned 30 I got all of my teeth permanently fixed and little did I realize the HUGE impact this would have on me.
I am now more confident, I smile more and people who knew me before and after say that its like I became a more satisfied and happier person. Even if you don't realize it being uncomfortable with your teeth /smile affects how your interact with people on a subconscious level.
I have never regretted it and I don't regard it as a cosmetic procedure, for me it was a physical necessity to stop the breakage ect.. For you the bonding that was originally used will break sooner or later, ask your dentist. So wouldn't you rather make a proactive choice?
Hope this helps
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Why does this bother you? Have you been told not to be vain or that there is something morally wrong with wanting to look nice? That is ridiculous. Respecting yourself and taking care of yourself is about the inside and outside. How we look and treat ourself on the outside is representative of how we feel about ourselves on the inside. If you have judged others for caring about their outside, then it is no suprise you are feeling like a hypocrite now. What you need to do now is be humble, and realize that you did not know everything and that we cannot judge others for what they choose to do with their bodies and life. Your conflict and stress will dissolve when you readjust your perspective and open your heart. Part of growing up and older, is rethinking and broadening our perspective. When we are younger and less experienced we often take on opinions we learned from our parents or our limited resources, then we find that as we enter our own experiences that the small opinions we held are no longer true for us. Welcome the gift that you are lucky enough to receive from a skilled professional dentist and enjoy your smile! Let your new smile remind you not of past judgements and guilt, but of a new and growing you!
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IMO cosmetic dentistry is much different then other cosmetic surgeries. Teeth go through a lot, and I doubt that as you get older and older, that you will be able to avoid at least SOME dentistry along these lines. If you dont do something with at least those two teeth now, you will probably have to at some time in the future.
Besides, you aren't doing this for purely superficial reasons alone; as you've stated, teeth were broken, stains are appearing, and you should prob do something about them. I'd go for the procedure for the two teeth and get the whitening while you are at it, as well. This isn't botox or breast implants, done simply to 'look better' when you looked fine already. IMO this is a whole different situation, and I dont think you should feel bad about getting this done.
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I broke my front tooth on a slide when I was about 10 as well. I had bonding for years but had to keep having it replaced. Finally I consented to the crowns and I love it. I feel more comfortable biting into things and haven't had a problem since. I completely recommend it!
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Yeah, I'd go for it. If you don't, you'll probably have to have soething done later on anyway, because it's been such a long time. If your teeth bug you, it'll give you more confidence too. I'd never get cosmetic surgry either, but i think I would do this, because it's not like you want to change what your body naturally looks like, its fixing it up after an accident. It's not really cosmetic at all.
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I think I would do it. You wouldn't be doing it for cosmetic reasons really. It is something recommended by your dentist because the stuff you had put on years ago has done its time. This fix will most likely last a lifetime and you won't have to worry about it ever again.
It is a great opportunity to have your teeth whitened if you want to do that. If not, you can also get them to match your existing teeth in color.:)
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