So 2 years ago, when I was 21yo, I got way too drunk, blacked out, and woke up in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. I look in the mirror and realize I chipped a big part of my front tooth. I don’t remember a thing from that night and I’m happy nothing worse than that happened. I went to the dentist immediately the next day and got it filled in with composite bonding (I think that’s what this is called)

I’m 23 now and ever since then, I’ve been living with the constant reminder and regret of that night on my smile. I’m very insecure about the transition/line from real tooth to composite that you can faintly see in the picture, even though to most people it’s not visible or noticeable. I can always notice it (obviously because it’s me) and sometimes it can clearly show in pictures like a discoloration.

Overall, it’s been holding up very well. I haven’t had any problems or pain with the tooth at all. I’ve been very cautious of what I bite into and how I chew my food over the past 2 years. I’ve also been brushing twice and flossing once daily to keep the tooth healthy. As far as I know, there is no further damage to that tooth other than the cosmetic chip.

My dentist keeps telling me on every visit that this will eventually fall out and I will have to get a veneer or crown. He recommends getting my front two teeth veneered so that it’s more symmetrical and will be more of a “permanent” solution (but I know that veneers can pop off and you need to replace them each decade or so). To be honest, I feel like he’s just really pushing me to get them so he can make a quick buck, but I guess I’m a great candidate for him to make a sale.

Money is not that much of an issue. Insurance can cover half of the cost for 1 veneer for the chipped tooth. The other one will definitely be out of pocket, coming out to around $1.8k total after insurance. 

While I am very insecure about that tooth now and would like for them to look “perfect” again, I’m really scared about the long-term complications of getting veneers. I know that my front teeth will be shaved down to place the veneers on and I‘ve read that it can cause a lot of sensitivity down the line. Especially since I would have to shave down the other front tooth which is perfectly fine and healthy. 

I’ve also read many horror stories about veneers and people on Reddit saying that they regret ever getting them. If it were up to me, I would ask the genie to get my natural tooth back, but unfortunately I’m not Aladdin. 

While the aesthetic of my smile is something that matters to me, I care more about the health of my teeth long-term I and don’t want veneers to cause any problems down the line. Honestly, this composite has been holding up well and people can’t really notice it anyway. Regardless, I would really appreciate opinions from other dentists or other people who have gotten veneers/crowns. 

I chipped my front tooth 2 years ago… need advice