Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

How Often Can I Whiten Dental Bonding Without Damaging It?

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I’ve had dental bonding on my front teeth for about five years. I’ve noticed it isn’t as bright as it used to be. One of the five teeth is starting to stain. My dentist wants to replace it, but the bonding doesn’t look bad, so I want to try to whiten it. How often can I whiten the dental bonding without damaging it? Thank you, Tara

Tara,

Thank you for your question. Many people with dental bonding are interested in whitening it as it ages.

How Often Can You Whiten Dental Bonding?

Unfortunately, you cannot whiten dental bonding. An expert cosmetic dentist may be able to polish away stains or discoloration depending on these factors:

  • Type of stain
  • Condition of bonding
  • Age of dental bonding

If you try to whiten your bonding with whitening toothpaste or bleaching gel, the product may whiten your teeth, but it will not whiten the bonding. Instead, abrasive substances can scratch dental bonding and make them stain more easily.

What Is an Alternative to Dental Bonding?

A porcelain veneer being held up with a dental tool

Porcelain veneer

Porcelain veneers are an alternative to dental bonding.

  • Cost – Porcelain veneers cost more than bonding—about $1,500 to $3,000 per tooth.
  • Longevity – Quality veneers can last 20 years or longer, while bonding may last about five years.
  • Staining – Porcelain veneers are stain resistant, but dental bonding stains with time.
  • Procedure – A cosmetic will roughen the surface of your teeth for dental bonding, but porcelain veneers may require removing small amounts of tooth enamel. Preparation for porcelain veneers ensures the custom-made porcelain shells fit snugly on your teeth and around your gumline.

If your budget permits it, you may consider porcelain veneers as a longer-lasting solution than dental bonding. We suggest scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist to discuss your options.

Dr. Jerome Cha, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

 

Afraid to Let My Dentist Redo the Bonding on My Front Teeth

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I’ve had dental bonding on my upper four front teeth since 2002, and it was beginning to look worn. When I asked my dentist to replace the bonding with porcelain veneers, she preferred bonding rather than grinding my teeth down for porcelain veneers. Her reasoning made sense, so I agreed to the bonding and scheduled an appointment two weeks later. When my dentist finished, I could see that the bonding did not match my teeth, which she had whitened in June. Also, the bonding work created a gap between my front teeth that did not exist before.

My dentist assured me she would correct the bonding color and gap, so I returned in late November. I did not notice any improvement. I talked to my dentist about my disappointment, and again, she promised to correct it. But I have yet to reschedule the appointment because I do not trust her, and I am considering finding a dentist for porcelain veneers. Is switching dentists the right thing to do? Also, is there anything wrong with asking for veneers, or should I let another dentist try bonding again? Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Michelle from Cleveland, TN

Michelle,

Thank you for your question. Your experience shows that it is unlikely that your dentist can match your bonding to your tooth color. Dentists who use bonding must understand how to manipulate color to achieve a perfect match for your teeth. Bonding requires hand application, which makes it even more challenging. Still, a trained cosmetic dentist with an artistic eye can achieve beautiful results.

How Do Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers Compare?

Both dental bonding and porcelain veneers will conceal chipped teeth. How do they compare?

Dental bonding

  • Material – Composite can beautifully match tooth color, translucence, and gloss.
  • Application – A cosmetic dentist applies bonding by hand directly on your teeth and layers and sculpts them to achieve natural-looking results.
  • Longevity – If you take good care of it, bonding can last about five years. But it will stain over time.

Porcelain veneers

  • Material – Porcelain is more durable than tooth enamel and, like dental bonding, beautifully matches natural teeth. Cosmetic dentists work with artistic ceramists to produce natural-looking veneers.
  • Application – After conservative tooth preparation, a dentist will bond a custom-made veneer to each affected tooth.
  • Longevity – Veneers can last eight to twenty years, depending on their quality and how well you care for them.

Your dentist explained that she prefers bonding over grinding your teeth for porcelain veneers. But porcelain veneers require light tooth preparation—not grinding down your teeth. So, it seems that your dentist may not understand the porcelain veneers process. We recommend scheduling an appointment with a trained cosmetic dentist to discuss your options for concealing your chipped front teeth.

 

Dr. Jerome Cha, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Before and after dental bonding photos from Tulsa cosmetic dentist Dr. Cha

Dr. Cha beautifully restored his patient’s teeth with dental bonding

My Dentist Buffed My Veneers, and the Gloss Is Gone

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My cosmetic dentist said he could buff out scratches on two of my porcelain veneers. Now both veneers look matte because the glossiness is gone. My dentist said he used cups and some polishing tool. Are my veneers going to stain now? Is there a way to reverse the damage? Thank you. Natalia M. from NJ

Natalia,

Thank you for your question.

Dr. Cha would need to examine your veneers before recommending treatment. Although a dentist may claim to be a cosmetic dentist, it takes post-graduate training and artistic inclination to practice cosmetic dentistry well. A trained cosmetic dentist understands how to polish veneers after specific training on how to do it.

Will Veneers with a Matte Finish Stain?

A porcelain veneer being held up with a dental tool

Porcelain veneer

A matte finish makes porcelain more susceptible to stain. It takes experience to polish a porcelain veneer and achieve a luster that is almost as good as the original glaze. Although polishing veneers does not require as much skill as creating a smile design, a dentist must know the process and stock specialized tools and materials in the office.

 Polishing porcelain requires a cosmetic dentist to use these items:

  • Diamond polishing instruments
  • Polishing paste
  • Ultra-fine diamond polishing paste for finishing

If you trust your dentist’s skill, you can tell him that you want more shine on your veneers. Some cosmetic dentists use Brasseler’s Dialite porcelain polishing system to remove the matte finish and restore the gloss. Depending on the extent of the issue, the system may work for your veneers.

Alternatively, you can look for a cosmetic dentist with advanced training and get a second opinion. The dentist will examine your veneers and explain your options for restoring them to a natural-looking gloss.

 

Dr. Jerome Cha, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Should I Be Able to Floss Between My Porcelain Veneers?

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Before I got porcelain veneers in February, I was able to floss with no problem. I’m trying to take care of my veneers, but I worry about not being able to floss. Earlier this month, I had my six-month checkup and cleaning. I told my dentist about the flossing issue, but he didn’t seem to be concerned. I use a water flosser instead, but I’m not sure it is effective since the veneers are so tight. Should I be able to floss between my veneers? – Thank you. Rhea from Arkansas

Rhea,

Thank you for your question. We are concerned that you cannot floss between your veneers, and you should be concerned, too. After you get veneers, floss you easily glide between your tooth without catching or snagging.

What If You Cannot Floss Between Porcelain Veneers?

If you cannot floss between porcelain veneers, the result is the same as not being able to floss between natural teeth. Plaque buildup can promote gum irritation, inflammation, and disease.

Flossing is a vital part of oral hygiene because it is an effective way to remove plaque. The American Academy of Periodontology confirms that without flossing between your teeth, dental plaque causes inflammation. And advanced gum disease is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. So, flossing between your porcelain veneers is essential.

Why Can’t You Floss Between Your Porcelain Veneers?

If you cannot floss between your porcelain veneers, your dentist’s bonding technique may be at fault. When bonding veneers on, a skilled cosmetic dentist takes these precautions:

  • Prime each tooth with etching and bonding agents
  • Place bonding composite in each veneer and press the veneer onto each tooth
  • Removes excess composite (bonding material) before hardening it
  • Use an ultra-small light curing tip only on the center of the composite of each tooth
  • Floss between teeth to remove excess composite and ensure surfaces between teeth are smooth
  • Curing remaining composite with a larger curing tip to ensure a solid attachment
  • Use fine polishing strips between teeth to smooth them

We recommend that you ask your dentist to correct your veneers so that you can floss between them with ease. If your dentist does not readily help you, schedule an appointment for a second opinion with an advanced cosmetic dentist who is concerned about helping you achieve healthy teeth and gums.

 

Dr. Jerome Cha, a Tulsa, OK accredited cosmetic dentist (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), sponsors this post.

Luster Premium Teeth Whitening

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I recently saw an advertisement for Luster Premium Teeth Whitening. It does have some good reviews, but I would like to get a professional opinion before using something over the counter. Have you ever examined this? If so, is it safe? I’ve never been happy with my smile and am looking for ways to improve it.

Emily

Dear Emily,

Teeth Whitening Trays

I am glad you wrote. I have looked into this. Lets talk about the light first. It does not have the strength to do anything. I think it is there just to make you think it is helping. The second issue is the whitening ingredient itself. This is not a true teeth whitening ingredient, such as you would find with a dentist or even some legitimate over the counter products. Instead, it uses a pigment found in one of their ingredients, Zinc Oxide. This will temporarily make the teeth look whiter without actually whitening them. My guess is this is why there are some positive reviews. They likely wrote the review before the pigment wore off.

I think this would be a waste of your money. If you are looking to improve your smile, this will not be the best way.

Improving Your Smile

If you are looking for a top of the line smile makeover, then porcelain veneers is the way to go. It is the go-to for Hollywood celebrities and can change anything you want, including the shape, size, and color. However, this is not cheap, so it will depend on your budget. One word of caution here. You don’t want to let any dentist do this. It requires an expert cosmetic dentist. Smile makeovers are not taught in dental school, so it requires a lot of post-doctoral training to develop the skill as well as artistry. If you go this route, I would look for an AACD accredited dentist to do this procedure.

If you need something less expensive and are just wanting to whiten them, it will improve your smile. In fact, it is the least expensive way to significantly to make your smile look better, while making you look years younger. Unlike the porcelain veneers procedure, pretty much any dentist can do it. It’s the most basic of cosmetic procedures.

There are two types of whitening procedures. The first is in-office whitening. Many offices who do this use Zoom Whitening. It allows you to whiten your teeth in just one appointment. Another method is at-home teeth whitening. It will use bleaching trays, such as the ones pictured above. This whitens your teeth over a period of weeks, but allows you to control the level of whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

DuraThin or Lumineers

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Will you please advise me. I am going to get a smile makeover and am trying to decide between DuraThin or Lumineers. The pictures I’ve seen with the DuraThin look a little better than some of the Lumineers pictures. Is there a huge difference in price?

KellyAnne

Dear KellyAnne,

Porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I would like to change the way you are thinking about your smile makeover. You are looking at the brand of porcelain veneers. This is a good strategy with some things, such as cars or jewelry. However, it would not be as useful with any type of art form and that is really what a smile makeover is.

It requires a dentist to fashion a smile for you. Think about it like a painting. You can commission two painters to paint a painting. They could use the exact same materials, including the model, and produce two very different type of paintings.

What you should be looking at is the dentist. Smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. Instead, a dentist has to invest in post-doctoral training. Even then, it takes a great deal of practice as well as some natural artistic talent. That is what you need to be researching. The artist– not the materials.

Think of Lumineers and DuraThin as just different brands of paint an artist will use. One dentist will create a masterpiece and one a disaster, both using the same materials. So, now you are probably wondering how you go about finding this wonderful artist?

While cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, there is an accreditation program with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have to pass stringent exams as well as demonstrate their artistry with a large number of cases. It takes years to accomplish. You will find these dentists to be in the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists in the world.

My advice is to find an accredited dentist, go over what type of smile design you are looking for, and let him or her choose the right materials and brand of porcelain veneers that will create a stunning smile for you.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Save Yourself from a Cosmetic Dentistry Disaster

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I had four porcelain fused to metal crowns done on my front teeth years ago. I wanted to update my smile. I went to see one cosmetic dentist who was voted as one of the best cosmetic dentists in our area, but he was out of my budget. Plus, he wanted to do four crowns and four porcelain veneers covering eight teeth and I really only need the four crowns done. I went to my family dentist who assured me I’d get a smile I’d love. This hasn’t turned out to be the case. The crowns he made are too short and you can’t even see my teeth, which makes me look ancient. I also think the color looks greenish, which he said, “Is the color I picked.” I’ve been back several times trying to get this right. The last time they actually said to me, “You’re expecting perfect teeth, which is unrealistic.” Well… duh. That is why someone does cosmetic dentistry. I don’t know what to do at this point.

Pam

Dear Pam,

Woman giving a thumbs up in a dental chair

You are running up against a philosophy taught in dental school but corrected in post-doctoral institutions that teach cosmetic dentistry. In dental school, we’re taught the dentist always knows best and you don’t want cosmetic work to look perfect. Those dentists who invest in serious cosmetic dental studies know it is about how the patient wants their smile to look.

Another problem you are running up against is that doing smile makeovers isn’t taught in dental school. A dentist has to invest in that post-doctoral training in order to know how to do it well. My guess is your family dentist hasn’t done that. I also don’t think you’re going to get anywhere with him on making this the way you want it. That isn’t just because of the attitude. It’s also an issue of his ability.

You can ask him for a refund. He did assure you that you’d get a smile you love and he hasn’t been able to provide that. What you’ll need to do from there is find a true cosmetic dentist. It isn’t a recognized specialty so it is hard for patients to know who has invested in the training and who hasn’t. The best cosmetic dentists are accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. That is different than just being a member. To get AACD accredited, the dentists have to not only pass stringent exams, but demonstrate their artistry with visual evidence of a large number of cases they’ve done.

As to the other dentist who is suggesting you also get four porcelain veneers, he is probably doing that so your smile will match. Most smiles are much wider than just four teeth. One other way to accomplish that is to whiten your teeth, which is recommended anyway so your bottom arch will blend well. See if he’ll let you do that instead of getting veneers and crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Another Cosmetic Dentistry Horror Story

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I need some advice. It was time to replace porcelain veneers I had placed a little over 25 years ago. My dentist decided I needed to have my bite opened and went with dental crowns. When he did the temporaries, I kept telling him they didn’t feel right. Every. Single. Day. I kept asking him to re-do them. When the permanents came in, he just barreled through with everything. Now I can’t even keep my mouth closed. My mouth is so dry I have to have a drink constantly. I’m in pain all the time too. I asked my dentist and he said he met all the checkpoints and my case is perfect. He suggests I just give it time to heal. It has already been a few weeks. How long should this take?

Veronica

Dear Veronica,

woman grabbing her jaw in pain

It is not a matter of healing. This is serious and your dentist completely botched this case. It may be he is a decent man and good at your basic dental procedures, but he is in over his head on this one. I don’t think he understands the checkpoints he spewed at you. The fact that he barrelled forward even with you telling him the problems you were having with the temporaries makes me question his empathy and ethics at this point. Though, as I said, he may have been in over his head and not ready to admit that.

His incompetence is obvious. One of the first “checkpoints” is when your mouth is relaxed it closes naturally. Yours isn’t. This is called lip incompetence and is a huge issue. It leads to dry mouth, which you are already experiencing. Your saliva is key in fighting bacteria and preventing decay. Without that saliva, you are too susceptible to that bacteria growing.

I know you mentioned you are drinking a lot to keep the dry feeling out. It’s helpful in keeping your lip from sticking to your teeth. However, make sure you are only drinking water. That liquid will find its way underneath your dental crowns to your teeth. Without the requisite amount of saliva, your teeth will be eaten away by any sugar your liquids contain. Until this is fixed—water only.

What to Do From Here

Your case has to be re-done from the beginning. Unfortunately, now that your dentist did dental crowns instead of porcelain veneers you’ll need to have crowns from here on out. I’m going to highly suggest you use a different dentist. I wouldn’t let your dentist anywhere near your teeth. Ask for a full refund. If he gives you any problem tell him you’ll be talking to an attorney.

Once he hears the word lawyer, he’ll call his insurance. Given the facts of the case, they’ll tell him to settle and quickly. Your repairs should at a minimum be completely paid for. I’d like you to see an AACD accredited dentist who’s done work in full-mouth reconstructions, which is what you will need.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Matching Whitened Teeth to Dental Work

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I whiten my teeth regularly. My old dentist whitened them and would give me a whitening gel to touch them up every year. I’ve since moved and have a new dentist. I decided to get porcelain veneers. He did four of them, but they are noticeably darker than the rest of my teeth. He says it is the whitest shade. How is that possible? Can I do anything to fix this?

Lacey

Dear Lacey,

tooth shade guide

I think I know what happened here. The above is a tooth shade guide. This is the old standard one which dentists would use to match a dental crown to their patient’s natural tooth color. Then, as teeth whitening grew in popularity this became problematic. We could no longer find a shade white enough to match their teeth.

This is because teeth whitening doesn’t just remove stains which have built up over the years. It will also whiten the natural pigment of the teeth making your teeth whiter than “natural” shades. My guess is your teeth are whiter than what he has available on his shade guide. That also tells me your dentist hasn’t kept up with his field very much.

ivolclar shade guide for bleached teethIn the 90s, as teeth whitening grew in popularity, dental companies knew they had to expand the pallet. Here is an additional guide the Ivoclar company came out with for dentists to use when their patients had very white teeth. Your dentist should have based the color of your new porcelain veneers from something like this guide.

Getting Bad Porcelain Veneers Fixed

Show your dentist this post and ask him to re-do your porcelain veneers at his cost. They don’t match your natural teeth, so it is not the beautiful smile you paid to get.

This time, before you allow your dentist to bond them on permanently, tell him you will want to see them on first. He can use a temporary try-in paste. This will allow you to look at them carefully on your teeth. You get to approve them before they are bonded. If you’re not happy with how they look, it is a simple thing for your dentist to send them back to the lab and make changes. This has to be done before they’re bonded.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Cosmetic Dentistry Malpractice

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I need help. I’ve spent over $25,000 to get my smile makeover. I had teeth which had composite bonding on them but they were old and needed to be replaced. I was told the best thing to do would be crowns on the top teeth, with whitening on the bottom. I was nervous about this because I had healthy teeth and wasn’t keen on grinding them down to nubs only to have a smile I don’t like. They assured me over and over they wouldn’t be bonded on unless I liked them. That’s not what happened.

We went over extensively the smile design I wanted along with the color. When the temporary crowns were ready they were okay. When the permanent ones came in, I wasn’t too happy. They were too dark. I said that before they put them in, but they insisted once I saw them in, I’d like them. They were still too dark. I still told them I didn’t like them but they insisted they were exactly what I requested and bonded them in.

Not only are they ugly, but uncomfortable. I am not getting anywhere with this practice. Even when I told them they hurt they suggested I give it a couple of weeks first. What do I do? I’m out quite a bit of money and am worse off than I was before agreeing to this debacle.

Katherine

Dear Katherine,

A Woman Giving a Thumbs up in the dental chair
The Best Dentists Listen to their Patients

First, you did not agree to this debacle. You agreed to get a beautiful smile makeover. They didn’t do that. In fact, you have a good case for malpractice. One of the tenents of dentistry is informed consent.

Though they promised you’d love your smile or it wouldn’t be bonded, they seemed to have had no intention of keeping their word. They bonded those crowns on without your approval.

Another thing I will bring up, though there is nothing that can be done about this particular bit, is they shouldn’t have used crowns for a smile makeover on healthy teeth. Smile makeovers are most often done with porcelain veneers which don’t require the teeth be ground down.

If you want to get your money back, you are going to have to get tough. This doesn’t sound like the kind of practice that cares about what their patient thinks. They likely won’t just give you a refund, though do ask.

If they say no, tell them you are willing to go to a lawyer and follow through. You may also show him this post as well. That should get them moving a bit.

They may offer to just do the case over for you. That’s up to you. Personally, I wouldn’t let them near my teeth. Instead, I’d like you to have your dentist pay for a better cosmetic dentist to re-do the smile makeover properly.

Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist

What you’ll want to do is get the best cosmetic dentist in your area to do this. It will even be worth it if you have to drive to a nearby city. With true cosmetic dentists, your smile will be stunning.

In your place, I would look for an AACD accredited dentist to re-do your crowns. They are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. In fact, I don’t think you’d find one of them who’d be satisfied if you weren’t. Most of them have a beautiful smile guarantee. You can find them by doing a search on aacd.com. Just be certain you check that you’re looking for an accredited dentist. That makes all the difference.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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