I went to a cosmetic dentist to get dental bonding done on three of my front teeth. I loved them at first. But in less than a week, the bonding is turning yellow.
I have been using baking soda to whiten the other teeth to match up with my new bonding. Do you think that has something to do with it? Do you know if there is a product that can be used to whiten the dental bonding back to how it looked?
-Marianne in Texas
Marianne,
That’s too bad to hear that your dental bonding turned yellow. Unfortunately, baking soda can be highly abrasive. This is especially true when it’s used as a toothpaste. The highly abrasive properties can damage the polish on the bonding.
Also, there is not a teeth whitening product that can be used on dental bonding. Cosmetic dentistry needs to be cared for with non-abrasive hygiene products.
Since you mentioned this has happened in less than a week, you may be able to discus it with the dentist that did it. They may be willing to re-polish the dental bonding for you. Then, you should use Supersmile toothpaste, which is specially formulated to be used on cosmetic dentistry. It is gentle enough to maintain the bright, white look without damaging the polish.
It is possible that the composite bonding materials used by the dentist may have been below par. However, hopefully that’s not the case. Here’s the thing. Far too many general dentists get in over their heads with cosmetic dentistry. It takes extensive training beyond dental school in order to do beautiful cosmetic dentistry. Not just any family dentist can do it well.
Also, you should have been provided with thorough care and post-operative care instructions to keep the dental bonding looking its best. If the work is redone and you use Supersmile toothpaste, you should be good to go. However, if the yellow returns, the dental bonding will likely need to be done by an experienced cosmetic dentist that has a better understanding of the proper finishing techniques and materials. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.