Does my tooth need fixing or am I asking for too much?

[SOBrien]

I recently had a filling done on one of my front teeth after moving to a new area and trying a new dentist. Unfortunately, during the procedure, the dentist accidentally damaged the tooth, which led to me needing cosmetic dentistry to fix the issue.

The cosmetic dentist I went to did an excellent job, and the tooth looks much better now. However, I’ve noticed that it appears to be missing some enamel. While it’s not very noticeable unless someone gets up close, it’s been bothering me a lot.

For context, I don’t have any veneers, these are all my natural teeth, and I’d prefer to avoid getting full veneers if possible. My main question is:

1. Is it possible to restore the enamel or improve the appearance of the tooth without resorting to veneers?
2. Am I asking too much from my dentist, or is this something they can reasonably fix?

I’ve attached some photos for reference, the tooth in question is my front left tooth. Any advice, suggestions, or insights would be GREATLY appreciated!

I will also attach a photo of my right tooth prior to this also for comparison.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Dr M]

It does not look like it needs any treatment in my opinion. This would only be for cosmetic reasons then. The most affordable way to fix this, is to add a thin layer of resin composite on the front surface of the tooth, to mask the yellow dentin shining through. Over time, resin composite does however discolour and would then need to be replaced/polished. The only other way would be to get a veneer, that would cover the entire surface, and would not discolour. You get no-prep veneers, but these have a greater risk of fracture or dislodgement, due to limit strength.
Unfortunately there is no way to regenerate enamel, once lost.

 

[SOBrien]

It does not look like it needs any treatment in my opinion. This would only be for cosmetic reasons then. The most affordable way to fix this, is to add a thin layer of resin composite on the front surface of the tooth, to mask the yellow dentin shining through. Over time, resin composite does however discolour and would then need to be replaced/polished. The only other way would be to get a veneer, that would cover the entire surface, and would not discolour. You get no-prep veneers, but these have a greater risk of fracture or dislodgement, due to limit strength.
Unfortunately there is no way to regenerate enamel, once lost.

Thank you SO much for your thoughtful response, Dr. M! I’m considering the option of adding a thin layer of resin to mask the yellow dentin shining through, as you suggested. I was also wondering if bonding might be another potential solution for altering the color or appearance of the enamel?

Additionally, I’ve noticed that the shape of the tooth seems a bit different than before. I used to have a small gap between my two front teeth(photo attached of smile before any dental incidents), but it appears that the filling has closed that gap, which has slightly changed the look of my smile.

Do you think it’s worth discussing with my dentist whether the shape of the filling can be adjusted to restore the original appearance of my teeth, or am I just overthinking it? My main concern is that any adjustments could stray even further from the authentic, natural look I’m aiming for.

Your expertise and insight are incredibly valuable to me, and I’d be grateful for any additional guidance you would willing to provide

Thank you again Dr. M!