I chipped a tooth and did some research on repairs. The consensus was dental bonding was the best repair. I did get that, but the bonded part doesn’t even come close to matching the tooth part. It is so obvious there is a repair there. Is that normal? If not, who do I get this fixed? Will I have to pay for it?
Casey
Dear Casey,
As you can see from the image above, dental bonding can and should look completely natural blending in seamlessly with the natural tooth structure around it. The problem you are facing is the dentist who did the procedure, not the procedure itself. It can be fixed and should be done at the dentist’s expense.
Doing bonding well is challenging because it has to be done freehand. This means the dentist either needs some natural artistic ability or invest significant time and money in the practice and training necessary to do it well. Not many dentists do that.
The first thing I recommend is you give your dentist another chance to get the dental bonding to look natural with your other teeth, with the understanding that if he can’t do it to your satisfaction, he’ll provide you with a refund so you can get it done properly. There is a reasonable expectation that the bonding matches the tooth.
If it turns out he can’t do it or just prefers to give you a refund, you’ll want to find an expert cosmetic dentist to do your dental bonding. I suggest looking for an AACD accredited dentist or a dentist recommended on the mynewsmile.com website. These are the dentists that have the skill and artistry to give you a natural-looking result.
One other thing to be aware of in case your dentist didn’t tell you before your original bonding. Once the bonding is completed, the color is permanent. If you want to whiten your teeth later on, your natural tooth structure will whiten but not the dental bonding. Then, the only way to get them the same color again is to re-do the bonding. Because of that, I generally recommend to patients that they have any teeth whitening done before the bonding. However, you also have the option of waiting until it is time to replace the bonding. I just didn’t want you unaware of the limitations and then having to spend unnecessary money replacing your bonding early.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.