The cosmetic dentist did dental bonding on my two front teeth last week. I honestly thought they would like whiter. So, I decided to use baking soda to brighten them up. But, that failed big time. Now they look yellow! Finally my teeth looked nice and straight and now they are ugly and yellow. What is the correct way to whiten dental bonding?
-Jennie from New York
Jennie,
Oh no, that is too bad. Baking soda is highly abrasive on any kind of cosmetic dentistry bonding material. It can damage the bond to the tooth too. Unfortunately, there is not a way to whiten teeth once they have dental bonding done. Whitening products and toothpastes only work on natural teeth and are extremely abrasive.
It sounds like it hasn’t been long at all since the tooth bonding work was done. So, it would be wise to contact the cosmetic dentist to see if they would simply re-polish the teeth for you.
Then, moving forward you want to use a toothpaste that will keep the bonding looking great. Most excellent cosmetic dentists recommend Supersmile toothpaste. It is gentle and effective on cosmetic dentistry work.
It is worth mentioning that the cosmetic dentist may have used materials that weren’t the highest quality if they became discolored so quickly. Hopefully, that isn’t what happened here. Too many general dentists get in over their heads when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. However, it is a little concerning that you weren’t provided with detailed post-operative care instructions.
If the bonding isn’t corrected by the dentist and Supersmile doesn’t improve the yellow, you may need to see a different cosmetic dentist. In this instance, the dental bonding shouldn’t have to be completely redone. However, the surface may need to be improved with higher quality material and polish.
Thank you for your question. It is a good reminder for others to be careful when choosing a cosmetic dentist.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS