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Cosmetic and
restorative
dentistry

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.