My dentist did dental bonding on several of my teeth to improve their appearance. At first, I was overjoyed because the worn down, chipped appearance was improved. However, it was just never right. I couldn’t speak normal. My teeth felt really bulky. So, the dentist said he would remove the dental bonding. Now, I have splotches all over my teeth and the color is uneven. I went to get a second opinion to see if this was normal. I was told that the splotches are from my natural teeth. They said I probably just never noticed it before. How is this possible? My teeth are worse off than when I started.
-Karen in Texas
Karen,
It is difficult to analyze exactly what has happened without being able to see you in person. But, from the sounds of it, my guess is you likely didn’t see an experienced, reputable cosmetic dentist.
Dental Bonding Mistakes
Tooth bonding should not make your teeth look or feel bulky at all. Any kind of cosmetic dentistry should not interfere with your normal speech patterns either. The bonding should not be thick enough that it adds any kind of bulk.
There are many problems that can arise from dental bonding that is too thick. Your talking could be impacted, as you have discovered. Also, food can become trapped and create the risk for increased tooth decay and gum problems. It likely doesn’t look very nice either.
You mentioned some chips and worn teeth. So, it is unclear why there was added bulk anyway. The chips should have been filled in the areas of the natural tooth structure that was missing.
Additionally, the dental bonding should not have been removed. This is another indicator that the dentist is not experienced in cosmetic dentistry. Maybe the dentist wasn’t confident in their cosmetic dentistry skill set. Because no expert cosmetic dentist would tell their patient that the dental bonding can be reversed. Yes, it can be ground off. However, the appearance of your teeth afterward will not be in good shape. Since the composite bonding material looks just like your natural tooth enamel, it would be easy to remove some of your natural tooth structure without realizing it. That may explain the splotchy look of your teeth now.
Telling you that your teeth must have looked that way before the dental bonding was placed isn’t right. Don’t go back to see that dentist or the dentist that gave you the second opinion. You would have known if your teeth have always been splotchy. In fact, that would likely have been your primary complaint.
Most excellent cosmetic dentists will take a before photo, followed by an after photo when the cosmetic dentistry was complete. It doesn’t sound like this occurred either.
You deserve a smile that you love!
So, now it’s time to fine an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area. A cosmetic dentist that knows what he or she is doing will have no problem giving you a beautiful, natural-looking smile. The dental bonding can be redone correctly. Or you may be a porcelain veneers candidate. Veneers are more durable and will last much longer than dental bonding.
Sorry that you have had such a bad experience. If you find an excellent cosmetic dentist, you may be able to have them put some pressure on your original dentist. If your teeth look bad enough, you may be able to pursue a refund toward fixing your smile.
Best of luck to you!
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos.