Dental Bonding Archives - Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist

Treating Enamel Hypoplasia

Posted on April 8, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am frustrated with my smile and tired of always hiding from pictures. We’re thinking about starting a family and I don’t want to avoid photos during my child’s entire life. What are my options for treating this?

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

Congrats on starting a family. I can completely understand why you want to feel comfortable and present for pictures. There are a couple of good options for you in giving you a smile you can feel proud to share with the world. For those who are unaware of what enamel hypoplasia is, it is a defect, which is caused either by genetics or an illness during the formation of the teeth, that causes to the enamel of the teeth to not fully form.

Treating Enamel Hypoplasia

With mild hypoplasia, you have two good options. The first is dental bonding. With this procedure, your dentist will drill or sand out the white spots and then fill the tooth with composite resin. This is done freehand and will be finished when you leave. It is the least expensive of the two options but does need to be replaced periodically.

Your second option is to have porcelain veneers placed over your teeth. If you are dealing with severe hypoplasia, as pictured above, this would be the only option I would recommend. With porcelain veneers, thin wafers of porcelain are bonded to your teeth. They are the go-to for those Hollywood smile makeovers and can not just cover the hypoplasia, but completely redesign your smile. Porcelain veneers can change the size, color, and even shape of your teeth.

Pick the Dentist Carefully

Both of these are cosmetic procedures. Unfortunately, cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty yet. This means that any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. To make matters worse, smile makeovers are not adequately taught in dental school. If a dentist wants to develop skills in creating smile makeovers, then they will need to invest in post-doctoral training. Not many dentists do.

So how are you to know the real deal from the pretenders? Well, you could ask them where they got their post-doctoral training in cosmetic work and then ask to see their smile gallery to see what type of artistry they have. Another option is to look for a dentist who has been accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have passed stringent exams on the technical procedures as well as demonstrated a high level of artistry in the work they do.

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

Can Dental Bonding Fix My Peg Laterals?

Posted on February 20, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have peg laterals on my upper on either side of my two front incisors. I’ve had them since childhood and I really dislike how they appear. I’ve heard that I may be able to have them “fixed” using bonding–is this true? I’d love to smile without reservation at last.

Many thanks,
Moira

Dear Moira,

This is a great question and one that is frequently asked by others as well.

What Are Peg Laterals?

For those who may not be aware of what you are referring to, let me give a quick rundown. Peg laterals are when the teeth lateral to the upper incisors are malformed. Often they are small and occasionally even pointed. Considered a form of microdontia, peg laterals are congenital and can be hereditary. They are rarely seen in lower teeth.

Will dental bonding help?

The short answer is yes. In fact, dental bonding is often one of the best ways to treat peg laterals and gain an esthetically pleasing smile. You also have the option of porcelain veneers as a solution. Veneers last longer, but are more expensive so which you pick will depend on your budget.

During the bonding process, your natural peg lateral teeth are left in place, and a tooth-colored material is bonded to the surface to bring the size and shape of the teeth in alignment with the rest of the natural incisors. They will be expertly shade-matched, shaped, adjusted, smoothed and polished to match your other teeth and your occlusion, resulting in a pleasing smile.

These should last you several years. As I mentioned earlier, porcelain veneers will last longer and will be more stain resistant, so you will want to look at both options to decide which is best for you.

Getting Beautiful Dental Bonding

The real trick to this is who you have do the procedure, regardless of whether you choose bonding or veneers. Cosmetic dentistry is not taught in dental school so for a dentist to do it well, they need to have post-doctoral training. The top cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. In your position, I would look for that type of dentist. This way, you will be pretty much guaranteed a gorgeous result.

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

Are Lumineers My Only Option to Repair Old Dental Bonding?

Posted on January 10, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had dental bonding done years ago to cover some tetracycline stains. Over time, the bonding has worn off and picked up stains. I wanted to replace the bonding, but I am in a new state with a new dentist. He is insisting that dental bonding cannot be replaced and I have to get Lumineers. That is a much more expensive procedure than I remember my dental bonding costing me. Are Lumineers the only option or is there something else I can look at, such as teeth whitening?

Carmella

Dear Carmella,

It sounds to me like you are with a dentist that does not do much cosmetic dental work. For one thing, dental bonding can absolutely be replaced. I’m not sure how he does not know that. Secondly, he is recommending Lumineers. This particular brand of porcelain veneers is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place.

You have three options for covering tetracycline stains. The first is porcelain veneers. This is the best option because the veneers will last longer than dental bonding. While bonding can give you a few years of stain resistance and heartiness, the porcelain veneers can last your lifetime when well taken care of. This means you won’t have to keep replacing them.

Your second option is to replace the dental bonding. Depending on the surface area, this may actually require more chair time for the dentist which could raise the price. They also have to be done free hand, so you will want to find a cosmetic dentist with a lot of experience covering tetracycline stains with dental bonding.

Finally, teeth whitening is sort of an option but you have to be very determined and patient in order to get it to work. It could take months and months of teeth whitening, which could lead to tooth sensitivity. I would only recommend professional strength take home whitening in this situation.

Your Most Important Decision

Your top priority should be to find a qualified cosmetic dentist to do this work. Tetracycline stains are some of the toughest to deal with. It will require a dentist with a significant about of post-doctoral training as well as an artistic eye. In your place, I would only allow a dentist who reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry touch this. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Listen to what his or her recommendation is before deciding on a procedure.

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

Fixing a Broken Front Tooth

Posted on December 14, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a ten year old son who broke his front tooth. I wanted a repair right away because we are traveling for the holidays. He can’t deal with the tooth until the end of January. When I asked for a referral somewhere else, he told me the tooth needed time to desensitize anyway and will be ready by the time he is available. Is this legitimate? I don’t want to seek treatment elsewhere if it will be a difficult appointment for him as a result.

Karyn

Dear Karyn,

I am sorry about your son’s fall. It sounds like you’ve got an active boy, which is a great thing. There is no real reason to wait, so I am not sure why he said that except possibly to make sure he did the repair. This is a tricky repair though, so before you schedule your appointment with someone, make sure that you evaluate their ability to do the repair well.

You didn’t mention if you have the piece that was broken off. It is possible that it can be bonded back on. If you don’t have it, that is okay. Dental bonding can repair it but both of these are very advanced procedures. Dental bonding is done freehand and requires an artistic eye and a high level of technical skill.

In your place, I would look for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and they had to demonstrate artistry with bonding cases in order to pass accreditation.

Do not be surprised if, when he is older and the pulp of his tooth is smaller, he needs a dental crown. In fact, it will almost be guaranteed.

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

Dental Bonding Problems

Posted on November 4, 2022 by writeradmin.

I had a gap at the top of my gums, between my teeth. The empty space looked like tiny black triangles. My dentist told me dental bonding was the solution for that and assured me it would blend perfectly naturally. It did not. Instead, it looked like he put some caulking between my teeth. I expressed how I felt about it and he responded that it was just the harsh lighting in his office. It wasn’t. When I got back to my home, which had low light, it still looked the same. That night, when I was brushing and flossing, I realized that now I couldn’t floss between those teeth. I’m very concerned about this. Is there a way to fix this?

Bernie

Dear Bernie,

When dental bonding is done well, it will blend seamlessly. You would also be able to floss between your teeth. The fact that you cannot floss is a big issue. This area will become a magnet for trapped food and bacteria leading to decay. In a weird, fortuitous way, though, this benefits you. Without this issue, you would not have had any recourse.

Believe it or not, because cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, the standard of care is whether or not it is functional, not whether or not it is beautiful. In that case, you would have been stuck with bathroom caulk for your bonding. However, because his repair is not functional, you can ask for your money back to have this redone by a dentist who has the cosmetic skills to do it well.

This type of repair is more challenging than your typical dental bonding case. The area at that part of your gums can be dark, which means there needs to be subtle coloring differences in the bonding that goes in this area. I would think only the top cosmetic dentists can do this correctly.

Once you get your refund, my suggestion is that you look for an AACD accredited dentist to close your black triangles. They are the dentists with the skill and training to pull this off in a way that looks both beautiful and natural.

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

My 11-Year-Old’s Dental Bonding Looks Terrible

Posted on August 24, 2022 by writeradmin.

I need some advice. My eleven-year-old daughter fell in such a way that it knocked a giant portion of the middle of her two front teeth out. She has some on the sides and top and that is it. Our dentist said the best solution would be to fill in the empty space with dental bonding. We agreed, but in all honesty, it looks awful. Her two front teeth are now lumpy looking and the color doesn’t exactly match the remainder of her natural teeth. This is a very tricky age for kids and she has been in tears since we returned. I don’t know what to do. Can this be fixed? Did he need to do a different procedure?

Avalon

Dear Avalon,

While your dentist was correct about the type of repair that would be the best solution, he doesn’t appear to have the cosmetic training necessary to do the actual work. Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. As such, any general dentist can “do” cosmetic work, but very few of them have the actual training necessary to do it right.

Dental bonding is particularly difficult because it has to be done freehand. It also requires special materials in order to match the colors exactly to the remaining tooth structure. On top of that, your daughter’s type of repair is more difficult than most. It’s even on the list of cases dentists have to show proficiency and artistry in for them to pass the AACD Accreditation Exam, which is the one “guarantee” for knowing that you have an expert cosmetic dentist.

My suggestion is you ask for a refund from your dentist. It doesn’t sound like he even came close to doing this in an acceptable fashion. Then, look for an AACD accredited dentist in your area. They will make certain your daughter has gorgeous front teeth as she returns to school.

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

Solution for Brown Stains on Teeth

Posted on May 22, 2022 by writeradmin.

My son has brown fluorosis stains on his teeth. They’re not very big, however it does cause him some embarassment. We’ve been to our dentist and did teeth whitening. That didn’t work. Somehow it made them more noticeable. Now she is talking about doing veneers, but they are quite expensive. Is that the best solution?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I am very glad you wrote. I don’t want you going to this dentist for the solution to your son’s fluorosis stains. She may be a great general dentist but she has no idea what she is doing with cosmetic work. Teeth whitening is the simplest cosmetic procedure and she didn’t know the basics on that. The reason it didn’t help your son’s situation is that the bleaching gel will whiten the teeth evenly, which tends to make stains more noticeable instead of less.

Dental bonding would be a better solution in your son’s case. However, you would need to take him to an expert cosmetic dentist. Even if you have to travel to another city to find one, it will be worth it. This is a very advanced cosmetic procedure that has to be done freehand. In your position, I would look for an AACD accredited dentist. If there is not one in a reasonable distance, try someone recommended by the mynewsmile.com website.

Any of those dentists will do an excellent job for you son. They are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. He will finally have a smile he will not be embarassed by.

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

How Long Do Composite Veneers Last?

Posted on April 9, 2022 by writeradmin.

I’ve been looking at options for smile makeovers. Most people suggest getting porcelain veneers, but I am just curious about composite veneers. Would they be less expensive? How long will they last?

Carol

Dear Carol,

In most cases, composite bonding is better used for small repairs, like a tooth gap or chipped tooth. The procedure has to be done freehand, which would take much longer in the dental chair than porcelain veneers will. In fact, many dentists will not do a smile makeover with composite resin for that reason. It would end up costing you more because of the tedious nature of the smile development. On top of that, the composite bonding will only keep their luster a few years before they begin to pick up stains. On the other hand, well-cared for porcelain veneers can last upwards of twenty years.

My suggestion would be to look for an excellent cosmetic dentist. This is not a skill taught in dental school, nor is it a recognized specialty. If a dentist wants to become skilled, they would need to invest in post-doctoral training. It would be easiest for you to just look for an AACD accredited dentist. These dentists have proven skill and artistry. It will keep you from having to investigate the training of each dentist you look at. Any one of them can give you an extraordinary smile makeover.

Let them look at your teeth and talk to them about the look you want. They will be able to determine what procedure can give you the best outcome.

I hope this helps.

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

Fixing a Gap Between a Crown and a Dental Bridge

Posted on March 14, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a gap between my front teeth I would really like to fix. Unfortunately, the tooth on the right is a dental crown and the left is a crown attached to a dental bridge. Is there a way for me to close this gap without having the fixtures replaced? Maybe by putting something like Lumineers on top of them?

Peggy

Dear Peggy,

Years ago, Lumineers would advertise something like you mentioned. They told patients that old crowns can be restored by placing Lumineers on them, but it ended up not working out as well as they hoped. First, porcelain does not bond to porcelain as well as it does to the natural tooth structure. Second, it takes as much work to place them over crowns as it would to just make a new crown. Finally, you have double the risk of failure because now there are two things bonded.

I am curious why your dentist didn’t place the crown and the bridge in a way where there was not a gap to begin with. That makes me wonder about his skills. In reality, because of that you will likely have to have these two procedures re-done. You don’t want to re-do just one of them because the porcelain would be “lopsided”.

There is a possibility you could have someone do a repair by bonding composite to porcelain, but they would need to have some experience with dental bonding and some special equipment. Your dentist would need to use a micro-etcher on the areas of porcelain near the gap. After that, they’d need to etch the area with a hydrofluoric acid gel. Then it would need to be primed with a silane coupling agent. Finally, a bonding resin and then a composite bonding applied to match the color of your crown and bridge. As you can see this would take some specialty skill. I’m not sure your dentist has it if he or she was not able to apply your procedures without a gap to begin with. If you want to try this repair method before resorting to replacing everything, I suggest you see an AACD accredited dentist.

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

Does the Dentist Matter If They Outsource Their Porcelain Work?

Posted on February 16, 2022 by writeradmin.

I am getting a smile makeover, which will include porcelain veneers on the top arch and some dental bonding for some broken teeth on the bottom arch. I understand that they outsource their porcelain work, so I don’t have to worry about that as much, but the dental bonding is done by the dentist in the office. How do I know if they can do quality bonding work or not?

Billy

Dear Billy,

You are correct that dental bonding is tricky and that the dentist really needs to know what he or she is doing. Not only is it done in the office, but it is done freehand. However, be careful about thinking the dentist won’t matter for the porcelain veneers. That is like saying it doesn’t matter what doctor you go to because it is the pharmacist who gives you the medicine. The reality is the pharmacist can only do what is precribed. If the doctor makes the wrong diagnosis and prescribes the wrong medicine, the result will be a disaster even if the pharmacist fills it perfectly.

With porcelain veneers, the cosmetic dentist prescribes the map for the ceramist to follow. He can do the work perfectly according to the dentist’s instructions, but unless the dentist is skilled and artistic the results will be disappointing. So, I would say you will need to find an expert cosmetic dentist for every part of the smile makeover.

How to Find an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

The hands down easiest way to guarantee you will have one of the best cosmetic dentists in the country is to look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. In order for a dentist to reach accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They have to pass oral and written exams as well as have a large number of cases they’re required to do examined in front of a board to ensure they have artistry. You can be assured that they will give you both stunning porcelain veneers and dental bonding. It will be the complete package.

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