Aesthetic dentistry is one of the areas in which patients are most open to being steered. Conflicting claims, exaggerated promises and incomplete information circulate on the internet. Smile design mistakes most often stem not from a lack of technical skill but from steps skipped in the process. As DijiDent Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic, we have compiled the misconceptions we encounter most often for our patients in Türkiye.
Starting Without Discussing Expectations
This is the most common cause of dissatisfaction. Expressions such as “make it natural” or “make it white” mean different things to different people. Proceeding only with a verbal agreement, without a trial stage, is a risky start.
Skipping Preliminary Treatments
Moving to the aesthetic stage while the gums are bleeding, there is caries or a tooth needing root canal treatment remains, results in a short-lived outcome. No restoration built without preparing the foundation will be permanent.
Never Evaluating Orthodontics
Correcting crooked teeth directly with crowns seems fast; however, it often requires significantly more tooth tissue to be removed. Deciding on crowns without having an orthodontic evaluation is an irreversible choice.
Preparing the Teeth More Than Necessary
In preparation done before the target form is determined, the risk of removing excess tissue to reach the desired thickness increases. This is exactly the clinical function of the trial stage: preparation is done using the targeted form as a reference.
Intervening on an Unnecessary Number of Teeth
Planning restorations for ten teeth when the problem is in four is a common mistake. The right approach is to intervene on the fewest possible teeth. It is your right to ask the rationale for the number of teeth recommended to you.
Leaving the Shade Decision Until Last
Whitening should always be done before restoration, because porcelain and composite are not affected by whitening. When the sequence is disrupted, a permanent shade difference forms between the natural teeth and the restorations.
Ignoring a Teeth Clenching Habit
Aesthetic planning done without evaluating bruxism is incomplete. Material selection, bite adjustment and a protective guard should be planned according to this information.
Making the Decision Based Only on Price
In healthcare, the lowest offer is often not the most economical option. A treatment that requires renewal in a short time means higher long-term costs and greater loss of tooth tissue. When making the decision, we recommend that you ask which stages the process covers.
Targeting Social Media Images
Shared results are presented with professional lighting and often edited. In addition, that smile has been shaped according to that person’s facial proportions. Bringing a reference is useful; aiming for exactly the same is not realistic.
Neglecting Care and Check-Ups
Treatment does not end when the restorations are cemented. In a mouth where interdental cleaning is not done, even the most carefully made work will have problems at the margin area. Regular check-ups allow a small problem to be resolved before it grows.
Not Getting the Treatment Records
When treatment is completed, you should be given the information on which material was used, the design files and a treatment summary. These records make things easier for you when a renewal or repair is needed in the future. Especially if there is a possibility you will change clinics or cities, it is important to keep your own copy.
Questions You Can Ask the Clinic
- How many teeth are planned to be treated, and why?
- Will there be a trial stage?
- Has an orthodontic alternative been considered?
- Is my gum condition suitable for aesthetic treatment?
- How many sessions and how much time are planned?
- What is the care and check-up program after treatment?
Frequently Asked Questions
The process is reversible up to the trial stage. After tooth preparation has been done, the process needs to be completed.
Guarantees of definite results, unusually short durations and expressions such as “you will definitely be satisfied” are not realistic.
Yes. Requesting a summary containing the treatment steps and the estimated timeline is your right and clarifies the process.
Yes, it is your right. You can request your records and ask for a different evaluation. I am having difficulty deciding. Do not rush. Thinking after the trial and getting the opinion of someone close to you is a healthy approach.
Improvement is possible in most cases; however, removed tooth tissue does not come back. Evaluation is needed.
A detailed initial evaluation and discussing expectations openly.
The right questions bring the right result.
Let us discuss your plan along with its rationale and determine the least invasive option that suits you. Contact us to book an appointment; make your decision with information at DijiDent Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic.
This content is for general information purposes; aesthetic results vary from person to person. No guarantee of results can be given in healthcare services.
