I’ve got dental bonding that is seeing the end of its lifespan. It is picking up stains and isn’t nearly as bright as it once used to be. I honestly don’t know if I should whiten them or replace them. If whitening would work then I’d like to do that. I’ve moved since then and don’t feel confident my new dentist can do the job. He said he’s willing to learn but I’d be his first case. Is there a specific type of teeth whitening that would work better with dental bonding?
Eliza
Dear Eliza,
There isn’t a teeth whitening that will remove the stains from your dental bonding, unfortunately. In fact, because it only works on natural tooth structure, your teeth would whiten but not the dental bonding, making the disparity even worse. That being said, I am glad you are not just going to let your new dentist try his hand at dental bonding on you.
This requires some expertise because it is a procedure that is done freehand. A dentist needs training as well as artistry. However, you do need to have the bonding replaced. If you are happy with your dentist in every other aspect, you don’t have to switch practitioners. Cosmetic dentists are used to patients coming to them just for specific advanced procedures and then returning to their regular family dentist for the bread and butter type of care.
With that in mind, how do you go about finding a dentist to replace your worn out work? The easiest way would be to find an AACD accredited dentist in your area. These are dentists who have proven their technical knowledge and artistry to an examination board. They are more than qualified.
Should You Whiten Anyway?
Because the bonding color is permanent during its healthy lifespan, if you have any plans to whiten your teeth, the time to do that would be before you have the bonding re-done. This way when they replace the bonding, it can be done to the color you will want to keep for some time.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.