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dentistry

Dental Bonding Color Doesn’t Match

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I need advice on how to help my sweet grandaughter. She’s not confrontational but paid over $1,000 to have teeth whitening and dental bonding done to improve the look of her smile. Her lateral incisors ended up gray, which is much darker than her natural teeth and even more so after the teeth whitening was done. She asked the dentist about it and he told her the lateral incisors are supposed to be darker. I just don’t buy that. She’s too nice to argue with her dentist but I know she is embarrassed by this and doesn’t smile as much. After paying that much money, she should be happy to smile. What can she do?

Andy

Dear Andy,

before and after dental bonding case

Your gut feeling is right. The lateral incisors should NOT be darker than her central incisors, as you can see from this case done by Dr. Weiss above. In fact, in many cases, they are actually slightly lighter. The dentist who did your grandaughter’s dental bonding either doesn’t know that, which means he doesn’t understand his own craft, or he isn’t honest and is making stuff up to shut her up. Neither of those options are good.

You have two choices in helping your granddaughter. The first is to ask the dentist to re-do the teeth which are too dark. Truthfully, I’m not sure you will get any better results the second time around. A true cosmetic dentist would not be satisfied with a case if their patient wasn’t thrilled. They certainly wouldn’t make up some excuse as to why his bad results are “good”.

Your second option is probably the best. That is where you ask him to cover the expense of having this done right with a different cosmetic dentist. She paid for a beautiful smile and didn’t get it. Additionally, he wasn’t honest. You can feel free to show him this post if it will help with her case.

Where to go to Get Her Dental Bonding Done Correctly

You need an expert cosmetic dentist to re-do her case. Smile makeovers aren’t taught in dental school and cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. If a dentist wants to excel at it, they have to invest in post-doctoral training themselves. Most just dabble. She needs an artist, especially with dental bonding which is done freehand.

I suggest, if at all possible to take your granddaughter to see a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top in the country. They not only have to pass stringent exams to show they understand the technical process of their craft, but they also have to provide visual evidence of their artistry.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Can Dental Bonding by Safely Removed?

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I have dental bonding I’m not too thrilled with. I’m moving and want to find a better cosmetic dentist. However, before I do anything I wanted to ask if it is possible to remove dental bonding without damaging the tooth. Have you had experience with that?

Mazie

Dear Mazie,

before and after dental bonding case

Yes, it is possible to safely remove dental bonding on two conditions: First, you must go to a dentist who understands the procedure and has the equipment. Second, the dental bonding has to be attached to the enamel of your tooth and not the soft dentist which is beneath the enamel.

Here are three ways to safely remove dental bonding:

Sandpaper disks

Dentists use these to polish composites. These are probably the easiest for a dentist to use for this particular job. They are flexible enough to form to the shape of the tooth and leave a nice smooth, polished tooth surface.

Carbide Drills

These have a high-speed. If the dentist is able to use them with light pressure, they will do the job faster than the sandpaper disks. Their big disadvantage is they tend to leave streaks of material on the tooth. If a dentist uses this, they’ll want to finish up with the sandpaper disks to get that nice smooth finish.

Air Abrasion

It will be hard to find dentists who have this equipment. It’s not as commonly used as the other options.

Getting Your Beautiful Smile

Whether you just have a dentist re-do your dental bonding or you get a full smile makeover with porcelain veneers, you want to make sure you have an expert cosmetic dentist do the work. In your place, I’d look for a dentist who is AACD Accredited. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

Some, less experienced dentists, will try to tell you if you get Lumineers they will be reversible. This is absolutely not true. They say this because they are marketed as a no-prep veneer. However, the material in porcelain veneers, including the Lumineers brand is much harder than the composite material and the tooth will almost positively end up damaged in the removal process.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Dental Bonding Staining

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I have dental composite bonding on all my front teeth. I have them re-done every three or four years. This latest set is only six months old and is starting to look yellow. Can this be polished to look right again or do I have to re-do them early? What would cause this to happen so quickly?

Priscilla

Dear Priscilla

Whether or not these can be polished to get rid of the stains depends on the nature of the staining itself. Unlike porcelain, which is hard and very stain resistant, composite dental bonding is fairly soft and is susceptible to two different types of staining.

Dental Bonding Staining One

an image of dental bonding on teeth stained by scratches

This first type of staining is surface stains. It happens because of tiny scratches on the bonding which allow it to pick up stains that are trapped there. You can tell these front teeth have been scratched because they’ve lost their glossy finish, instead they look matte. If you look at the adjacent natural teeth, they still have a gloss to them.

The good news is this type of staining can be fixed. If your dentist thoroughly polishes them, it will remove the scratches and stains, all while bringing the gloss back.

Dental Bonding Staining Two

Teeth with the two front teeth having stained dental bonding

Composite bonding is made from a solution of inorganic filler particles such as quartz or glass bound together in a plastic matrix. Because of that, it will absorb stains into its actual material. For instance, if you drink a lot of staining beverages, such as coffee or tea, it will penetrate the plastic and become a part of the bonding structure.

The picture above is a good example of this. Notice the two front teeth are much more stained than the surrounding teeth. This is absorbed staining. You can tell that (as opposed to scratch staining) because the teeth still have their shiny gloss. Notice the adjacent teeth, though stained, aren’t as stained as the bonded teeth. This is because your natural teeth are less susceptible to staining than composite bonding.

Unfortunately, this has to be re-done. There is no way to polish this out. Teeth whitening won’t work either. It will only whiten natural tooth structure. If that is the case, I’m going to highly suggest you switch to porcelain veneers on your teeth. Yes, veneers are more expensive initially. However, you are re-doing these every few years. Great porcelain veneers can last upwards of twenty plus years. They’re much more stain-resistant than bonding. In fact, they’re even more stain-resistant than your natural teeth.

Keeping Dental Bonding Stain-Free

1. Start with the right materials. You want to go to a skilled cosmetic dentist. They are more likely to stock microfill composite. This is possible to get polished completely giving it a high gloss and helping it resist stains.

Most general dentists just keep a generic composite which will never completely polish up to the gloss you need.

2. Avoid abrasive materials. I recommend anyone who has cosmetic work use Supersmile toothpaste. It’s specifically designed to chemically remove stains, instead of doing it with abrasives the way most toothpaste works.

3. Avoid staining beverages. If you must drink them, try not to let it sit on your teeth. Swallow immediately.

4. Make sure your hygienist doesn’t use anything like a prophy jet or pumice on your bonded teeth. It will destroy the glazing.

I hope this helps. Seriously consider switching to porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Pain After Dental Bonding

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I had dental bonding done a few weeks ago. One was for a cavity, but the rest was for chipped teeth and a gap. I’ve had increasing pain ever since, especially when I bite down. I called the office and they said it is just a matter of me adjusting to the feel over time. Why is it getting worse?

Fred

Dear Fred,

before and after dental bonding

As you can see from the picture above, dental bonding can be a great solution for cosmetic procedures. In the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist, they can restore a beautiful smile.

I’m uncomfortable with your dentist telling you that you’ll just get used to it. First, when done right, it should feel just like your natural healthy teeth. The procedure is designed to help restore the missing tooth structure. If the bonding was done properly it wouldn’t be causing any pain.

Even if there was initial pain and irritation from the procedure, the pain would be getting better not worse, which is what you are currently experiencing.

The likely problem is your filling is seated too high. This would explain the pain when you bite. Your teeth are hitting together too soon. Your dentist should have called you in to do adjustments. It likely means he has to file them down just a bit.

Never Ignore Pain

Pain should never be ignored. There are quite a few reasons why there could be pain. In addition to the filling being seated too high, there still could be decay under the filling. It could also mean there is a crack in the tooth or any other number of things.

My point is, your dentist is wrong for ignoring it. You need to go back and insist he finds out what the underlying problem is and once he does, he needs to fix it.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Micahel Weiss.

Crowns for Chipped Tooth

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I’m not sure what to do and need some advice. I tripped and ended up chipping one of my front teeth. It’s not a huge chip, but it bothers me. My sister told me that dentists can fix chipped teeth even if you don’t have the broken piece. I went in to see my dentist. While he did say he could fix it, he said the solution would be for him to crown my two front teeth. I’m not too keen on that, especially because the other tooth is fine. When I asked him why both teeth, he said so that they could match. While I get that they need to match, it feels stupid to grind down two healthy teeth. I’m worried I’m letting my vanity get in the way of sensibility. What do you think? Crown the teeth or live with a small chip?

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

While I am sure your dentist is trying to do his best for you, I’m going to recommend you see someone else to repair this chipped tooth. Many dentists need to do two crowns on front teeth to match them, however, there are great cosmetic dentists who can match a single crown. If a crown were the right course of action, then another dentist could do the treatment just on one tooth.

The easiest way to find a highly skilled cosmetic dentist is to look on the website of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (aacd.com). They have a link to help patients find a cosmetic dentist. However, you want one who has reached the accreditation level. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Any one of them can match a single porcelain crown to a front tooth.

All that being said, you really don’t even need a crown on the one tooth let alone two. Yes, a crown will cover the chip, but there are much less aggressive ways to repair it.

Dental Bonding for Chipped Teeth

before and after dental bonding

Dental bonding is the standard treatment for a chipped tooth.

The standard treatment for this is to have dental bonding placed on the tooth. This uses a composite resin which a cosmetic dentist will sculpt freehand onto the tooth. I wouldn’t push your family dentist to do this. It is obviously not a procedure he is familiar with and it would take some technical skill along with artistry to do it right.

Instead, I would find an excellent cosmetic dentist and have them do the procedure. You won’t have to completely switch dentists. You can still go to your family dentist for everything else,

There is a cosmetic consideration here (aside from the chipped tooth). Whatever color your dentist makes your bonding is permanent. If you are even considering having teeth whitening done on your teeth, it will save you money to do that before you have your bonding done.

Otherwise, your natural tooth structure will whiten but not your bonding. Then you’ll have to have the bonding re-done to match the newer color.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Blotchy Teeth After Bonding

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I had Dental Bonding done because of some chips and some wear of my enamel. The bonding itself was so bulky I couldn’t speak properly. My dentist said she’d remove it but when she did my teeth ended up looking splotchy. My dentist insists this is how my teeth looked before but I know it isn’t. What do I do?

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

before and after dental bonding

It sounds to me like your dentist, who may be a decent general dentist, doesn’t understand cosmetic work at all. If she’d done it right to begin with, your teeth wouldn’t have been bulky. This is especially true because you were only getting chipped and worn teeth fixed.

Look at the before and after picture above. This is a case Dr. Weiss did for a patient. Her teeth look natural and there is no added bulk. When dental bonding is done properly, the results are beautiful and natural.

I haven’t seen your case, but based on what you’ve described, I think I can guess what happened in her removal process. She likely went past the bonding and ended up taking off some of your natural tooth enamel. The structure underneath is a different color and will end up making your teeth look splotchy.

When Dental Bonding Goes Wrong

You can ask her for a refund. If she cares about her results, she should give you one. However, without a “before” picture to show what your teeth looked like before the bonding, you won’t have any proof that they didn’t look splotchy beforehand. There’s no way to hold her to a refund without proof.

Again, this is also evidence she’s not a true cosmetic dentist. They always take before and after pictures.

The only way to fix this is to have your case completely re-done. Please don’t use the same dentist. You need a great cosmetic dentist this time around.

In your place, I’d look for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They will give you a stunning smile.

Before you move forward with the procedure though, you may want to look into porcelain veneers instead. These are much more durable than dental bonding and will last for many more years.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Solutions for a Tooth Gap

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I have a tooth gap which is really starting to bother me the older I get. I’m looking into solutions and wanted to opinion of a cosmetic dentist.

Ben

Dear Ben,

woman smiling with a tooth gap
There are several solutions for a gapped tooth

When you have a gapped tooth, there are three great solutions. Which you choose depends on what you’re going for with the rest of your smile.

Solution One: Invisalign

Invisalign Aligner
Invisalign Aligner

If you want to truly close the gap, you can use orthodontics. It’s no longer necessary for patients to wear unsightly and painful wire and metal braces. These days adults (and teens) prefer Invisalign. It uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth.

It has a secret benefit of allowing you to simultaneously whiten your teeth at the same time. Your dentist can provide you with the teeth whitening gel and the aligners will double as the trays.

Solution Two: Dental Bonding

before and after dental bonding

You can see from this case which Dr. Weiss did the gap is completely closed. He also reshaped her whole smile at the patients request. When done by a skilled cosmetic dentist dental bonding blends perfectly and looks completely natural.

You don’t have to have bonding done on the entire smile as this patient did. It can just close the gap. It can be matched to whatever color your teeth are. If you’re happy with the whiteness, just do the bonding. If you’d like them a little whiter, first whiten them, then have the bonding done after that is completed.

Solution Three: Porcelain Veneers

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth
Porcelain Veneers

This is only a useful option if you’re unhappy with other aspects of your smile. Porcelain veneers can change everything about your smile.— the shape, the size, the color.

This is the go-to procedure for a complete smile makeover. It can give you the smile of your dreams. However, I would consider it an expensive over-treatment if all you want to do is close a tooth gap.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Chipped a Tooth? 5 Surprising Facts about Dental Bonding

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Chipped teeth are common. But many people don’t do anything about it because they think the process of correcting the issue will be time-consuming and costly. Think again. Dental bonding is a fast, highly effective way to restore a chipped tooth.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is tooth-colored dental composite that is blended based on the color of your natural teeth. Bonding is applied to your tooth, shaped, hardened, and polished.

Applied While You’re Sitting in the Dental Chair

A cosmetic dentist has everything in his or her office that is needed to restore a chipped tooth with dental bonding. This includes:

  • A variety of composites needed to match your tooth shade
  • High-quality bonding agent
  • A variety of dental tools to correctly apply the composite

Usually Only Requires One Appointment

Dental bonding is a quick process. After your tooth is cleaned, it will be roughened and etched to ensure the bonding adheres to it. The composite will be applied to your teeth, shaped, hardened and polished. Often, the process can be completed in 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.

Looks Completely Natural

A skilled cosmetic dentist will match the dental composite to the color of your natural teeth. People won’t be able to tell that your tooth was ever chipped.

Can Last for Years

If you take good care of it, quality dental bonding can last five to ten years. Unlike porcelain restorations, dental bonding can pick up stains. If you smoke or regularly drink coffee or other dark beverages, the bonding can stain. Visit your cosmetic dentist to maintain and polish your bonding.

Although it can last for five to ten years, it doesn’t last as long as porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. But bonding also requires less removal of your natural tooth structure than those treatments.

Less Expensive Than Other Types of Cosmetic Dentistry

Bonding is the least expensive way for a cosmetic dentist to restore your chipped tooth. A porcelain veneer is a longer-lasting solution, but it is significantly more expensive. Although a porcelain crown can restore a chipped tooth, it requires aggressive preparation of your natural tooth. It would not be recommended unless the tooth has significant damage.

The before-and-after photos below show how an artistic cosmetic dentist can ise dental bonding to seamlessly conceal imperfections in teeth.

  • BEFORE
  • AFTER

Find a Cosmetic Dentist

Although a general or family dentist will be willing to fix your tooth. An experienced cosmetic dentist can seamlessly restore it. Search online for an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area. If you can’t find one, look for a dentist with post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. Many dentists’ websites feature a smile gallery where you can find photos of actual photos. Examine them closely, and look for photos of patients who have received dental bonding.

This post is sponsored by Philadelphia accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.