Dental Second Opinion in Overland Park, KS
A dental second opinion is an independent exam by another dentist, either to check a treatment plan you have been given or to find out why dental work you already had is failing. You leave with a diagnosis, your options, and written costs.
At Overland Park Dental Design, Dr. Patrick B. Lillis, DDS, reviews your records, examines your teeth, bite, jaw joints, and muscles, and explains what went wrong or whether the plan you were given makes sense. The office is at 109th and Roe in Overland Park, on the Leawood line.
- Veneers that chipped, came off, or look fake
- Crowns that keep coming loose or breaking
- A bite that has never felt right since the work was done
- A large treatment plan you want checked
- Other dentists refer complex cases to this practice
Two kinds of dental second opinion
Most second opinions fall into two groups: checking a plan you haven't started yet, or sorting out work that has already failed.
| Compare | Before treatment | After treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Why people come in | A large or expensive plan, or a diagnosis that doesn't feel right | Veneers or crowns that chipped, came loose, hurt, or look wrong |
| What to bring | The written plan, your X-rays, and any scans | X-rays and records from the office that did the work, and old photos of your smile if you have them |
| What the exam looks at | Whether the diagnosis matches what the records and exam show, and what the alternatives are | Why the work failed: the bite, the design, the preparation, the laboratory, or the tooth underneath |
| What you leave with | An independent diagnosis and, where it differs, other options with costs | A diagnosis of the failure and a plan to repair or redo it, with written costs |
Signs your cosmetic dental work needs a second look
Failing cosmetic work usually shows within the first few years. A systematic review of 6,500 porcelain veneers in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found fracture was the most common complication, followed by debonding, and both happened most often in the first years after placement.
Book an exam if you notice:
- A veneer or crown that has chipped, cracked, or come off, especially more than once
- A bite that feels high, uneven, or different since the work was done
- Jaw soreness or headaches that started after the work was done
- Teeth that look too white, too even, too long, or too bulky for your face
- Gums that stay red, puffy, or bleed around the edges of the work
- A dark line or a ledge you can feel where the work meets the tooth
- Sensitivity or pain in a tooth under a crown or veneer
Why cosmetic dental work fails
Most failed cosmetic work traces back to the plan. When Dr. Lillis takes these cases apart, the materials are usually fine, and the problem started with how the bite was read, how the teeth were designed, or how they were prepared.
"Every case I fix goes right back to the diagnosis. The diagnosis wasn't correct, and that's a domino effect."
The bite was never checked
Veneers and crowns sit where the teeth meet. When a case is designed for looks with no attention to how the upper and lower teeth touch and slide, the new edges take forces they were never shaped for, and the ceramic chips or pops off.
"When you just look at cosmetics and disregard function, that's when bad things happen. You start to get chipping, fracturing, cracking of ceramic."
The design was made for a photo
Teeth that look too white, too uniform, or too big usually came from a stock shade and a template shape. Natural teeth vary in color and translucency from one tooth to the next, and a smile has to fit the face, the lips, and the age of the person wearing it.
The preparation didn't suit the case
How much of each tooth is shaped decides how well a veneer bonds and how natural a crown looks at the gumline.
Dr. Lillis calls worn and heavily restored mouths the cases with "no margin for error on a worn dentition", because every step, from records to preparation design, has to be right.
The work was rushed through a high-volume laboratory
Ceramic made quickly in one flat shade looks like a set of dentures next to real teeth. At this practice, ceramic is built up in layers by hand at a small studio Dr. Lillis has worked with for over a decade.
How a second opinion works at Overland Park Dental Design
A second opinion here is a full exam with new records, followed by a plain explanation and written options.
Send your records
Ask the office that did the work, or the office that gave you the plan, to send your X-rays, scans, and treatment notes. Under HIPAA, you have the right to a copy of your dental records, and having them means fewer repeat X-rays.
If you have older photos of your natural smile, bring those too. They show what your own teeth looked like and help set the goal for a redo.
Exam and records
Dr. Lillis takes photographs, intraoral scans, and records how your teeth meet. He examines the teeth, the gums around the existing work, the jaw joints, the jaw muscles, and the airway, because a failure in one tooth often starts somewhere else in the system.
Diagnosis, explained
You hear what failed and why. If the plan you were given elsewhere is sound, you hear that too, and you can go back to your dentist with more confidence.
Options and written costs
You get two or three ways forward where they exist, from repairing one tooth to redoing a whole case, each with a written cost. You can take them home and compare.
If you choose a redo, you approve the design first
For cosmetic redos, your new smile is designed digitally, printed in the practice's own lab, and placed in your mouth as temporaries you live with and approve. The final ceramic matches what you already approved.
"They leave with the same design that they saw on the computer. The final restorations are a replica of the temporaries."
Can bad veneers be fixed?
Yes, in most cases. Dentists remove failed veneers and replace them with new ones designed around your bite and face; sometimes only one or two need replacing.
Because enamel was already shaped for the first set, the new plan depends on how much healthy tooth is left. Some teeth get a new veneer, while teeth with too little enamel may need a cosmetic crown instead.
Well-made porcelain veneers last. The same review found 95.5% of porcelain veneers were still in place at ten years. A set that fails early usually points to the plan, the bite, or the preparation rather than the material.
Crowns that keep falling off
A crown that keeps coming loose usually has one of four causes:
- too little tooth left for it to grip
- decay under the edge
- a bite that levers it off
- a crown that never fit closely
A crown needs a collar of sound tooth to hold onto. A review in the Journal of Endodontics found that 1.5 to 2 mm of it improves fracture resistance in root canal-treated teeth.
Re-cementing the same crown on the same tooth rarely fixes a crown that has come off more than once.
If a crown comes off, keep it, avoid chewing on that side, and call the office.
Getting a second opinion on a treatment plan
A large treatment plan deserves a second look, and any good dentist expects some patients to ask for one. These questions help you compare plans:
- What problem does each part of the plan fix?
- What happens if I wait, and how fast would it get worse?
- What are the other options, including doing less?
- How long should this work last, and what maintenance will it need?
- What does each stage cost, and can it be done in phases?
At our Overland Park practice, we recommend full mouth reconstruction only when the mouth needs it, and many people leave with a smaller plan than they expected.
The Overland Park dentist who gives your second opinion
Dr. Patrick B. Lillis completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the UMKC School of Dentistry, treating complex cosmetic and reconstructive cases under attending faculty. He has practiced in Overland Park since opening Overland Park Dental Design in July 2004.
Other dentists in the community refer complex cases to Dr. Lillis, and he lectures to dentists through Seattle Study Club.
What patients say
5.0 on Google · 32 reviews
Their team is detail oriented. You don't leave their office unless everything is perfect. I had major dental work performed. Since then I've received numerous compliments from family, friends & strangers about my new smile.
I was sent to Dr. Lillis by referral to fix a crown that I was told was not fixable. Not only did Dr. Lillis listen to all of my concerns but he was able to fix what others could not in a timely manner and with the utmost regard to detail and perfection. I honestly CANNOT say enough good things about this office. Every single staff member as well as Dr. Lillis himself have exceeded my expectations in all areas of care!!!! I highly recommend Dr. Lillis for all your dental needs.
Dr. Lillis and his team are beyond amazing! From my first consultation to the end result I couldn't have asked for a better experience. They take care of you from the moment you walk in the door. Truly impressed with their concierge approach to dental care. Can't thank them enough!
Second opinions near Leawood, Prairie Village and Kansas City
Overland Park Dental Design is in the Foxhill Medical Building at 109th and Roe, just off I-435 at Roe Avenue, on the line between Overland Park and Leawood. Patients come from Leawood, Prairie Village, Mission Hills, Olathe, Lenexa, and across the Kansas City metro.
Overland Park Dental Design, Patrick B. Lillis, DDS4601 West 109th Street, Suite 318, Overland Park, KS 66211
(913) 451-7330
Dental second opinion questions
Is it worth getting a second opinion on dental work?
For large, costly, or cosmetic treatment, yes. A second exam either confirms the plan or shows you other options, and it usually costs less than redoing work that was planned wrong.
Will dental insurance pay for a second opinion?
Some plans do, and some don't. Check with your benefits provider, since coverage for a second opinion exam varies by plan.
How do I get a second opinion on dental work?
Ask your current office to send your X-rays, records, and written plan, then book a comprehensive exam with another dentist. Bring older photos of your natural teeth if you have them.
Will my dentist be upset if I get a second opinion?
Second opinions are a normal part of care for large treatment plans. You have a right to a copy of your records, and requesting them is routine for any dental office.
What can go wrong with veneers?
The most common problems are chipping or fracture, followed by veneers coming off. Others include a bite that feels wrong, gum irritation at the edges, and teeth that look too white or too uniform for the face.
Can veneers be redone?
Yes. Old veneers are removed, and new ones are designed around your bite and face. Where too little enamel is left, a crown may replace a veneer on that tooth.
What happens to veneers after ten years?
Most well-made porcelain veneers are still in place at ten years. Over time, edges can stain, gums can recede and expose a margin, and a veneer can chip, which is why they are checked at every hygiene visit.
Why do some veneers look fake?
Usually one flat stock shade, teeth that are too white or too large for the face, and a design made for a photo instead of your bite. Layered ceramic, shaded tooth by tooth and sized to your face, looks like natural teeth.
Why does my crown keep falling off?
Usually too little tooth for the crown to grip, decay under the edge, a bite that levers it off, or a poor fit. Re-cementing rarely solves a crown that has come off more than once, so the cause needs to be found.
Can you fix dental work done in another country?
Often, yes. The exam and process are the same: new records, a diagnosis of what failed, and a redesigned plan. How much can be saved depends on how much healthy tooth is left under the work.
Book a second opinion in Overland Park
If dental work you paid for has not held up, or a plan you were given doesn't feel right, a second opinion gets you a diagnosis, your options, and written costs. You decide from there.