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Cosmetic and
restorative
dentistry

Fixing a Broken Front Tooth

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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,

before and after dental bonding

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.

Best Solution for a Chipped Tooth

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I fell while my son was teaching me to skateboard and chipped one of my teeth. I wanted to just get bonding done to keep everything as minimally invasive as possible. My dentist said that dental bonding does not hold. Instead, she wants to give me a dental crown. I’m hesitant to do that because it is a healthy tooth. Plus, I have another crown and it really doesn’t look very natural. Thankfully, that one is toward the back, but this will be a front tooth. Is there an alternative to these procedures?

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

before and after dental bonding

Before I answer your questions, let me first say that you get the epic mom award. Now, onto why you really wrote. Unless you are an unusual case, dental bonding would be the correct fix for this. It can hold up well when done by an expert cosmetic dentist with the right materials. I think the bigger issue here is your dentist is not comfortable doing dental bonding and is, therefore, trying to steer you in another direction. You are right to be concerned about the dental crown.

Not only is it overly invasive, but it is extremely difficult to match a crown to a single front tooth. If she is not capable of doing dental bonding and your other crown looks fake, I would not let her anywhere near this chipped tooth.

My suggestion is you see an expert cosmetic dentist and let them do the repair. You are better off finding a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (aacd.com). AACD accredited dentists have to pass arduous examinations as well as have their cosmetic cases evaluated by a board of examiners. Those who reach accreditation are in the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists in the world.

As a tip, I would recommend you get your teeth whitened before having your dental bonding done. While the bonding can be made to match any color exactly, once it is cured into place, the color cannot be changed. If you decide to whiten your teeth afterward, your natural teeth will whiten, but not your bonding. It will have to be completely re-done. If whitening is on the horizon, getting it done before saves you money.

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

Dental Bonding Disaster

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A couple of years ago, I had dental bonding done for a chipped tooth with a dentist from another city. This year, I relocated. A few months into the move, the bonding started to have some discoloration. So, I asked my new dentist to fix it. She said she’d need to bond both teeth for it to look right. I thought that was odd because my last dentist did not have to do that, but decided to give her a chance. I wish I hadn’t. The color doesn’t match my teeth at all, there is now a gap between my teeth that wasn’t there before, and now one tooth is longer than the other! I asked her about the gap and she said that is a common issue with bonding. Then I asked her to file down the long tooth, so it could be the same size as its partner. Finally, when I asked about the color, she said natural teeth aren’t all the same color. Her suggestion is that I wait a week and see if I change my mind about its appearance. Then we are supposed to meet again and determine if there is anything I still want her to change. Should I wait and give her a chance to fix this or just ask for a refund. She is nice, but honestly, my smile is worse than it was before.

Cadance

Dear Cadance,

before and after dental bonding

I think you need to ask for the refund and then find another dentist to do the work. Here’s the problem you are facing with this dentist. Cosmetic dentistry is not taught in dental school. She may have learned how to repair teeth, but learning to make them look beautiful and natural is a skill set they have to invest in during a post-doctoral course of study.

Dental bonding in particular is one of the most challenging of the procedures because it has to be done free hand. Additionally, they have to understand all the materials, such as colors, textures, and translucencies, and which ones go together in order to sculpt a true replica of the tooth. I don’t think this skillset is going to magically appear in a week.  In fact, I would not even wait the week. Call the office, tell them you want the refund and start your search for the dentist who can do this right.

Which Dentist Can Do Dental Bonding Well?

My first suggestion is that you look for a dentist who has reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They have the technical knowledge, skill, and artistry to create a beautiful result for you.  It is sometimes hard to find one, depending on where you live, but it will be worth it even if you have to travel to a nearby city or state.

If that proves impossible for you, your second option is to look on the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend excellent cosmetic dentists by zip code and the distance you are willing to travel.  The site is run by an AACD accredited dentist and he personally screens each dentist he recommends. A dentist cannot just pay to be listed on his site. Many are on their way to accreditation, which is a process that takes years.

One other thing I will mention. You may not even need this, but if you’ve been considering teeth whitening, I suggest you do it before having the bonding placed. The color of the bonding will mot respond to whitening agents, only your natural tooth structure will. If you try to do that after, you’ll end up with two different colored teeth.

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

 

 

Dental Bonding Doesn’t Match

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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,

before and after dental bonding

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help! I Look Like Jim Carrey!

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This quarantine has almost destroyed me. First, I tried to cut my own bangs which were almost down to the tip of my nose. Then, the other night I had WAY too much to drink and tripped, which resulted in chipping my front tooth. I seriously look like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. Help! My dentist still isn’t open but tell me there is a solution for this once he is. For now, I’m just going to hide indoors and ignore the doorbell. No one can see me like this.

Stephanie

Dear Stephanie,

Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber

Jim Carry in Dumb and Dumber

For the benefit of those who may not know Jim Carrey or the role he played in Dumb and Dumber, I’ve posted a picture above. Don’t feel too bad. This quarantine has been hard on us all. There are more than a few bad haircuts in the grocery stores these days. You’re also not the only one to hit the wine bottle either.

While a dentist can’t do anything about the cereal bowl haircut, you can certainly get that tooth repaired. The first thing the dentist will want to do is make sure there is no underlying damage to the pulp of the tooth from the trauma. If everything is okay there, the standard repair for a chipped tooth is dental bonding. This uses a composite resin that the dentist will sculpt on your tooth to make the tooth whole again. This is done freehand, so you don’t want your average dentist to do it. Dental bonding takes experience and artistry to make it look natural.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

before and after dental bonding to repair a chipped tooth

Your family dentist may also be an expert dentist. Just make sure before having him work on your tooth. The top cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. This means they have passed stringent exams on the technical knowledge and procedural process in cosmetic work. In addition to that, they also had to submit visual evidence of a substantial number of cases they’ve personally done to be examined by a board of experts for the quality and beauty of their work. Any dentist who reaches accreditation is in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country.

What if Your Dentist Isn’t Accredited?

Just because your dentist isn’t accredited, doesn’t mean he can’t do beautiful work. This is a process which takes many years and there are some artistic dentists out there who are still in that process. I would first look to see if he is listed on the mynewsmile.com website. If not, then your next step would be to ask for before and after images of dental bonding cases he’s personally done. Don’t settle for stock photos. If you are not absolutely thrilled with the results, don’ t let him near your smile.

Expert cosmetic dentists are used to having patients come to them just for the one procedure and then staying with their family dentist when that is through. There is no shame in that. He’ll understand and your dentist should understand as well.

I hope this helps. Try to keep away from the booze for a while, you don’t want to end up needing dental implants. Hopefully, this whole Coronavirus mess will be over with soon. I know dentists are ready to get back to work!

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.