Cosmetic dentistry information for everyone.

I recently had some dental bonding done to close a small gap in my front teeth, but I’m not happy with the results. It doesn’t look nearly as natural as I expected. Can I get it reversed?

Debbie- Chicago

Debbie,

Yes, dental bonding can be reversed fairly simply. There is a special sandpaper that most dentists should have on hand, that is used to file the bonding off. The sandpaper will take it right down to the original enamel.

Your dental bonding can be done to look both beautiful and natural, however to get that kind of result you will need to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentistry is an unregulated field. Any general dentist can learn how to do a procedure or two and call themselves a cosmetic dentist. You want someone who has real artistry. Dental bonding has to be done free hand, so that takes an even greater skill. I would suggest after getting it sanded, to find one of the mynewsmile.com recommended dentists from Chicago and get the new bonding done by them. These dentists are screened for their credentials and artistry, so you’ll be safe with them.

This blog is sponsored by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Hurley.

I need some dental bonding done of my front tooth. I tripped and chipped the tooth on some cement. When I went to my dentist for a consultation, he did a mock up for me. I was so glad I did that before agreeing to the procedure. The bonding looked quite dull and yellow compared to my natural tooth structure. He said he would have to order a lighter shade of bonding material to get what I am wanting. I think he said the lightest he has is B1. I’m a little uncomfortable with him doing the procedure because even if he had matched the right shade, it would not address how completely dull and lifeless the bonding looked. The change in opacity made it look like he’d just glued something on the mock tooth. I wonder if I am being unreasonable with my expectations, but I’d like to have bonding done that looks like my tooth, which was quite beautiful before my fall.

Bella T. - St. Martin

Bella,

You are not being unreasonable at all! If your dentist cannot match the natural appearance of your tooth than he is probably not a qualified cosmetic dentist. There is not a recognized cosmetic dentistry specialty. As a result, any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. However, to truly be qualified as a cosmetic dentist it takes a lot of additional training. I tend to think of general dentists as mechanics. They can fix the problem. Qualified cosmetic dentists are artists. They will make your smile look astonishingly beautiful.

Based on what you have said, I think your dentist falls closer to the mechanic side of things. He can fix the chip, but it will not be beautiful. Here are some things to be aware of with your dental bonding. As you consult with another dentist, you can get an idea if he knows what he’s doing. The fact that the lightest shade he could get to was a B1 tells me he doesn’t do a lot of cosmetic work. Additionally, it is much more than just picking the right shade to get a tooth to look natural. I loved reading your concerns because you instinctively knew what your dentist didn’t.

In addition to having the right shade, your dentist will need various translucencies and surface gloss. He will use an inner body shade of composite, for which he will use a strong hybrid composite that will have some opacity to it. After that there are lighter and lighter shades built into the composite as you get near the incisal edge, with a translucent area right on the incisal edge. After all that is done, he will add a microfill that will have a high surface luster in order to mimic the appearance of enamel. A dentist who does that will give you bonding that looks as beautiful as your own tooth. As you can see anyone who just picks a shade and goes does not know what they are doing.

Another procedure you might be interested in is porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

I had some bonding done on my two front teeth about three years ago. They are now chipped and my dentist wants to do two crowns instead. I don’t want that much of my teeth ground away. Should I just get them re-bonded?

Lissel D. in Kansas

Dear Lissel,

Though I haven’t seen your case, I would not consider crowns the next best step if all that is wrong with them is the chipping. Porcelain crowns seem like an aggressive move. You could have them re-bonded, but seeing as they’re already chipping I’m not sure that is a great option for you. My suggestion would be porcelain veneers. There is very little tooth preparation needed, just some mild shaving. You cannot tell the difference in appearance between a shaved and unshaved tooth. In addition, veneers are very strong and durable. Hope this helps your decision.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Allyson Hurley.

I received two dental implants last yearago. One of them kept getting food trapped in it and required constant care, now it has cracked. Am I past any warranty that comes with implants?

Brent from Arkansas

Dear Brent,

Most dentists do not have a warranty with their dental implants. The reason for this are all the variables involved. Some people do not follow the recommended maintenance. That being said, a dentist with integrity will stand behind his or her work. If there was some faulty material used that caused it to crack, most dentists would re-do the work at no charge.

It is highly unusual for the crown of a dental implant to crack after one year. They are designed to last many years. They also should not be getting food trapped in them. Ethically, your dentist should replace it, though he is under no legal obligation to do so.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Why didn’t my dentist tell me about the Maryland Bridge? I discovered this myself while searching on the Internet.

Ken in Grand Forks, MN

Dear Ken,

In most cases a Maryland Bridge won’t work for a missing tooth. Further, some dentists really don’t know how to do them, and there can be technical problems, because they are not as strong or reliable compared to a conventional dental bridge.

In my opinion, the dentist should provide you with all of the options for a missing tooth: either a conventional dental bridge or a dental implant is the way to go. And in some cases, a removable partial denture may be another option. In some unique situations, an Encore Bridge or Maryland Bridge would be an option.

Learn more about procedures used for missing teeth here.

Dr. Hurley,

My two front teeth have were bonded about 13 years ago, and now they should be replaced. And unfortunately I don’t have the money to do this right now. From what I understand, bleaching doesn’t change color to bonding. But can I at least bleach the bonding back to its original color, and will white strips help with this?
- Anna from Washington State

Anna,

Sorry, but teeth bleaching will not get your dental bonding any whiter.

It will just make it look worse. Reason being, it will whiten your natural teeth even more, and it won’t lighten the bonding.

Polishing can the bonded teeth can help though. If the bonded teeth are discolored from external, and not internal stains, meaning, then it is possible that the discoloration could be polished away by and experienced cosmetic dentist. Otherwise, you would need to replace the bonding.

If money is tight, then you should wait to do this. Don’t bargain shop for cosmetic dentistry, especially when it comes to dental bonding. This procedure requires artistic talent to make your teeth look right. Most dentists don’t even have the materials or talent to do this correctly.

Read more about this on my website.

I would like to improve my smile by fixing the spacing between my teeth. I’m looking for quick and affordable way to make my teeth look straight. I really can’t afford costly cosmetic dentist work. What is your opinion of the Snap-On Smile appliance?

Shelly from Utah

Shelly,

If you’re looking for a temporary and inexpensive way to improve the appearance of your smile, then the Snap-On Smile appliance will work. Most dentists should be able to do this for you since it only involves taking an impression of your teeth and choosing a color shade and smile design. Then the dentist will send it New York to be created in the laboratory.

I believe the appliance will cost you between $1000 and $1500 as opposed to this same price for just one porcelain veneer. This appliance should last you anywhere from 3 to 5 years if worn daily, and then you can pop out when you don’t want to wear it.

Another affordable and longer lasting alternative to the Snap-On Smile is a technique called direct tooth bonding, but you would need to go to an expert cosmetic dentist who has artistic ability for this. Direct tooth bonding involves adding tooth-colored composite to both sides of your teeth where you want to correct the gap. Although, using this method depends on how many gaps you have between your teeth because direct tooth bonding should not be used for complete smile makeovers.

If you would like to learn more about complete smile makeovers, visit our porcelain veneers web page.