Dental Bonding Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

Can’t Floss Between My Teeth After Getting Bonding for Black Triangles

Posted on September 15, 2024 by AllSmiles.

After my dentist used bonding to close the black triangles between four teeth, I couldn’t floss between them. The bonding looks like a glob between my teeth—almost like the teeth are connected. The spaces developed while I was wearing Clear Correct braces. Is it even possible to correct the spaces with bonding? Thanks. Kolby from TX

Kolby,

Often caused by receding gums, black triangles are a common dental concern. The image provided illustrates a case where this occurred. In your case, black triangles developed from straightening your teeth with Clear Correct braces. A skilled cosmetic dentist must examine your teeth to determine whether bonding can resolve the black triangles.

Challenges of Using Dental Bonding for Black Triangles

If you decide to proceed with bonding, it’s important to be aware of several challenges:

Gum Health: Improperly applied bonding can create a food trap, leading to plaque and calculus buildup and potentially causing gum disease. The bonding material must be carefully shaped and polished to prevent this. A healthy gumline allows for smooth floss passage, indicating proper shaping and polishing.
Bonding Difficulty: Gum tissue sensitivity and fluid production can hinder bonding. Retraction techniques can control these factors and ensure a successful bond.
Aesthetics: Achieving a natural appearance requires careful consideration of color matching and shape. A dentist must choose appropriate composite materials and skillfully shape the bonding.

Consult a Cosmetic Dentist

Consult a dentist with advanced aesthetic training to offer appropriate solutions. Removing the bonding may allow for easier flossing and a smoother tooth surface.

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post. Read why Dr. Delaune’s patients consider him one of the best dentists in town.

My Dental Bonding Is Tuning Yellow After Eight Months

Posted on August 18, 2024 by AllSmiles.

Last December I got dental bonding on six upper front teeth. I’ve had bonding replaced on the front teeth four times in the past 15 years. The current bonding is yellowing. Can my dentist polish it, or should I find someone to replace the bonding? I know it shouldn’t yellow this fast. Thanks. Deonne

Deonne,

One of the primary differences between composite bonding and porcelain veneers is their durability and stain resistance. Porcelain veneers are significantly more durable and stain-resistant than tooth enamel, making them a longer-lasting option. Conversely, composite bonding is softer and more susceptible to stains, leading to a shorter lifespan.

Composite materials can develop tiny scratches that attract stains. Thorough polishing can smooth out these scratches, remove the stains, and restore the surface’s luster.

Two types of staining that can affect composite bonding:

Surface Discoloration: Surface scratches can attract stains that polishing can remove
Material Penetration: Certain colored liquids can penetrate the composite material, resulting in more difficult-to-remove stains. Staining typically occurs over a more extended period and may only be noticeable later.

Prolong the life of composite bonding and maintain its appearance with these steps:

Choose a skilled cosmetic dentist: An experienced dentist with expertise in cosmetic dentistry can select high-quality materials and skillfully apply dental bonding.
Avoid abrasive toothpaste: Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth or cosmetic dentistry work.
Request a fine-grit polish: Ensure your dental hygienist uses a fine-grit polishing agent to avoid scratching the composite surface.
Be mindful of staining beverages: Limit drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine. If you consume them, drink them quickly and avoid letting them linger in your mouth. Swish water in your mouth afterward.
Consider porcelain veneers: For a longer-lasting, more stain-resistant option, porcelain veneers may be a better investment.

Consult with an advanced cosmetic dentist for an exam and treatment recommendations.

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie.

Before and after dark front teeth restored with dental crown photos from Metairie, LA, cosmetic dentist Dr. Delaune

Dr. Delaune’s patient

My Front Tooth Is Too Long After Getting Dental Bonding

Posted on May 28, 2024 by AllSmiles.

My new dental bonding made one front tooth too long. Also, I didn’t match my teeth, so I asked my dentist to correct the color. I got the bonding because my two front teeth are chipped. Now, the bonding is whiter and has more texture than my teeth. One of my front teeth is longer than the other, and somehow, my dentist created a gap in the bonding. It seems that each time I ask my dentist to correct an issue with the bonding, she creates another one. My dentist is nice, and I don’t want to cause friction. Can I just ask for a refund? I’m afraid to let her try again. Thanks. Giovanna from MS

Giovanna,

Dentists need advanced training, skill, and artistic talent to apply dental bonding and match it to your surrounding teeth. Your dentist cannot correct your bonding regardless of how often she tries if she lacks advanced cosmetic dentistry training.

Skilled cosmetic dentists have an inventory of composite bonding materials with varying textures, colors, and translucence to perfectly match your tooth color and characteristics.

We recommend scheduling consultations with two cosmetic dentists for a second opinion. You can compare the dentists’ treatment options and chairside manner to decide which dentist you prefer to replace your dental bonding.

Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding for Chipped Teeth

While both porcelain veneers and dental bonding can address chipped teeth, veneers require tooth preparation. A cosmetic dentist must shave off a tiny amount of tooth enamel to create a secure fit for the veneers. In contrast, dental bonding requires slightly etching your teeth before applying the bonding material.

A cosmetic dentist can seamlessly hide your chipped teeth with bonding or porcelain veneers. During a consultation, a dentist should explain what to expect in these areas:

Tooth preparation
Chair time
Results
Cost
Longevity of cosmetic work

We wish you a swift resolution that helps you feel good about your smile again.

Metairie, Louisiana, dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read how he strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie.

Bonding Keeps Falling Off My Lower Front Chipped Tooth

Posted on March 12, 2024 by AllSmiles.

My lower left right front tooth was chipped last October, and the bonding keeps falling off. My dentist can’t seem to secure it. The chip isn’t large, but it’s big enough to show when I smile. The bonding fell off four times. When it comes off, my tooth looks worse than it did without the bonding. I’m tired of trial and error and going back and forth to the dentist. I lost my confidence in her anyway. She doesn’t know how to repair my tooth. What do you suggest? It’s sad to think about changing dentists for a small tooth chip, but I’m self-conscious about my smile. Thanks. Lydia

Lydia,

Many dentists find restoring a chipped lower incisor challenging because the edges of the tooth hit the opposite upper tooth whenever you close your mouth. An impact of upper and lower teeth can cause a tooth to chip. The composite on a chipped tooth is under extreme stress that can loosen the bonding. A dentist must understand occlusal stress to ensure the bonding stays intact.

Veneers or Dental Bonding for Lower Front Chipped Teeth?

Skilled cosmetic dentists can use dental bonding or porcelain veneers to conceal chips on teeth, but they must minimize stress on the teeth when they meet. Before treatment, a cosmetic dentist will consider the position of each chipped tooth. For example, light shaving may be needed for a tooth that leans forward. Otherwise, it would absorb more stress when you close your mouth when the upper and lower teeth meet. Stress on teeth is minimized when the upper and lower incisors meet simultaneously, and only an expert cosmetic dentist can achieve the desired results.

We recommend finding a dentist with postgraduate training in occlusion, bite, and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule a consultation to learn about your options.

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie.

An example from Dr. Delaune is how a cosmetic dentist can produce beautiful results with dental bonding.

New Bonding on Canine Teeth Is Yellow – How to Resolve It

Posted on March 11, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I asked my dentist for bonding on my canine teeth because they were noticeably shorter than the teeth on either side. I also wanted my teeth whitened, so my dentist completed it last November before bonding. My appointment for bonding was in January. Although my dentist assured me that she would blend shades to match my teeth, the bonded teeth were yellow when she asked me to look in the mirror and smile. Neither she nor I had time to correct it that day.

I returned to her office later in the month, and she took off the original bonding and replaced it. She kept saying how much I would love the results as she was applying them. I was almost in tears to see yellow bonding again that looked somewhat DARKER than the original bonding she placed. I’ve been fortunate to work from home, so no one I see on video conferences can look at my teeth long enough to notice how yellow the canines are.

My dentist’s office called me to schedule an appointment. I declined, but my dentist called me two days later and said that she might need to replace it with porcelain veneers if the bonding didn’t work this time. I politely told her that I was not getting porcelain veneers. I didn’t reschedule with her because I’m skeptical. Is it possible that my dentist has ruined my teeth by adding and removing bonding, and I need porcelain veneers? Carlton from NV

Carlton,

We agree that you should be hesitant about letting your dentist correct the bonding on your canine teeth. No doubt, the bonding is even more noticeable because your natural teeth are even whiter after getting them bleached. We recommend that you find an advanced cosmetic dentist to do it.

Although you may not be able to legally force your dentist to compensate you for getting the work corrected, you can politely ask her and mention any of the possibilities below—whatever you think might get a response from her:

Hiring an attorney
Complaining to the dental board
Submitting a negative online review

Direct Dental Bonding

Only an artistic dentist achieves beautiful results with direct dental bonding. Any dentist can remove the bonding on your canine teeth and reapply it, but it takes an artist and specific technique to make bonding look natural and blend with the surrounding teeth.

Porcelain Veneers vs. Bonding

Although veneers produce beautiful results, you asked for dental bonding. A skilled cosmetic dentist can lengthen your canine teeth with bonding. It’s doubtful that your dentist ruined your teeth. It’s more likely that she doesn’t understand how to manipulate bonding to match your natural teeth.

Cosmetic Dentistry Is an Art

Dental school training isn’t enough – Dentists need advanced training to understand color, translucence, and gloss and achieve natural-looking results with bonding. It takes advanced training to become skilled in cosmetic dentistry, and few dentists are dedicated to refining their skills.
It takes an artist – Most people who become dentists want to fix things, but 95% of dentists aren’t artistic. They often don’t think extra training is necessary. And they are satisfied when the results look okay. However, the artistic dentist wants your smile to look natural and beautiful. Some dentists may not be concerned about yellow canine teeth resulting from dental bonding.
It takes advanced training – Although cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, it takes time to study it and achieve good results. Artistic dentists aren’t satisfied until you love your smile. They have a lifetime commitment to receive training that helps them refine their art.

How Can You Find a Top Cosmetic Dentist?

Follow the steps listed below to find a top cosmetic dentist who will enhance your smile.

Ask friends or acquaintances for recommendations.
Visit the dentists’ websites to confirm that they participate in ongoing training.
Look for the dentists’ affiliation or credentials with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Find the smile gallery of patients’ before-and-after photos on the website. If the dentist doesn’t have a smile gallery, maybe they aren’t proud of their work.
Schedule a consultation with at least two cosmetic dentists, ask questions, and ask to see photos of dental bonding.

Best wishes for a confident smile.

Dr. Duane Delaune, an cosmetic dentist in Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post.

An example from Dr. Delaune of how a cosmetic dentist can product beautiful results with dental bonding.

Fixing Splotchy Teeth

Posted on July 3, 2021 by writeradmin.

My teenager has always had thin tooth enamel. We tried to be very careful when she had braces. We seemed to avoid the splotchiness in all but her front two teeth. I’m glad her teeth are straight but these need to be dealt with. I’ve heard there is a procedure to fix it. Do you know if dental insurance will cover it?

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

These white spots, as you probably know are decalcification— precursors to tooth decay. There are two possible solutions to this. The first only works sometimes. There is a product called Tooth Mousse that can sometimes re-calcify teeth. It doesn’t work all the time, but is inexpensive and worth a shot in my opinion. You can get it online.

If that doesn’t work, a sure-fire solution is dental bonding. You will need an expert cosmetic dentist for this so don’t expect your average family dentist to be able to do it. Above, I’ve shown an image of dental bonding that is being used to fix a chipped tooth. What your daughter will need is for the decalcification spots to be gently sanded off and then the composite bonding can fill in the gaps.

As I mentioned earlier this procedure needs an expert cosmetic dentist. The whole thing is done freehand, plus you want them to know enough color theory to be able to match her teeth perfectly. I would look for a qualified dentist on the mynewsmile.com website. Every dentist on their is prescreened for their cosmetic training and artistic skill.

As for your dental insurance, it varies from policy to policy, but do not expect it to cover the whole procedure. At the most, they will contribute to it, but that is about all I would expect.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Dental Bonding Doesn’t Match and Falls Off

Posted on June 1, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have tetracycline stains and my dentist said dental bonding would take care of it. It has not worked out at all like I wanted. First, the color doesn’t match and it is pretty obvious. Plus, you can still see some of the tetracycline stains through it. As if that weren’t bad enough, the bonding fell off after just three days. I went back for him to repair it. At the time, I told him about the color problem so he made them thicker, which looks weird in its own way. Now they have fallen off again just a few days later. I called him back and he said they’re not meant to be permanent so I should not have high expectations. However, I was told they’d last up to five years, this is like just a few days. What should I do?

Calorie

Dear Calorie,

As you can see from the image above dental bonding can blend in quite naturally with your teeth. I think the biggest problem you are facing is the skill and technical knowledge of your dentist. Both dental bonding and tetracycline stains are some of the most advanced procedures in cosmetic dentistry. You should be aware that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount of training they have invested (or not invested) in.

I think your dentist is in way over his head. Dental bonding should not fall off, especially after just a few days. As for the color, if he is an inexperienced cosmetic dentist, he probably doesn’t even have the colors and other materials necessary to make things blend well. An additional problem in dealing with tetracycline stains is making the teeth opaque enough to cover the stains, while translucent enough to look natural. That is not an easy accomplishment, even for a skilled cosmetic dentist.

Honestly, the better treatment for you would be porcelain veneers and not bonding. It is more permanent, decades rather than years. Plus, it is more stain-resistant. I don’t think your dentist is the one to do it. Here is my advice. Do not let him “fix” this. instead, ask for a refund. Then, we’re going to get you to a highly skilled cosmetic dentist.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

Because there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry it is hard for patients to know who has the skills and who doesn’t. There is a website that strives to help patients in your position. A retired cosmetic dentist runs the mynewsmile.com website. He prescreens all dentists that want to be listed on his site. They cannot purchase their way on. Instead, they have to show their training credentials, in addition to proving their artistry and skill on cases they’ve completed. Any dentist he lists can provide you with a stunning smile.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.
Click here to learn about our free virtual smile makeover consult.

Dental Bonding Doesn’t Match

Posted on September 18, 2020 by writeradmin.

I chipped a tooth after a fall. My dentist wanted to put a crown on the tooth, but I did some research and saw the best solution was dental bonding so I asked him to do that. He agreed, but the results aren’t that great. The colors don’t match so you can really tell it is a repair. Is it okay to have this dentist do it again? Should I have to pay for it to match?

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

When dental bonding is done correctly, it can match perfectly with the rest of the natural tooth. However, it isn’t easy to do. Not only is it done freehand, but many dentists don’t carry enough of a selection of shades and textures to do this right. When a dentist suggests something like a dental crown for a chipped or gapped tooth, which is a massive overtreatment, it is an indication they are uncomfortable with cosmetic dentistry.

You have two options: The first is to give your dentist another chance to get this right. Explain to him that the repair is obvious and doesn’t match the rest of your tooth. If he cares about the quality of his work, he should be willing to do it again. And, no, you shouldn’t have to pay for it.

I would give your dentist another opportunity to get this right. You shouldn’t have to pay for the color to match. That is part of what you paid for in the beginning. Don’t be surprised if he still struggles, but it is fair to give him another chance. If after the second go he still can’t get it to match, then I would suggest your next step is to ask for a refund, then find an experienced cosmetic dentist.

Who Should Do Your Cosmetic Bonding?

In your place, if it doesn’t work out with your original dentist, then I am going to suggest you look at the mynewsmile.com website. The man who runs this site has retired from cosmetic dentistry but wanted to offer patients a service to help them know who has the skills to do beautiful cosmetic work. Most patients don’t realize that there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. That means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the level of skill they have.

To make matters worse, most of the skills they need for well done cosmetic work isn’t even taught in dental school. For a dentist to develop the necessary skills they will have to invest in post-doctoral training. It’s nearly impossible for patients to know which dentists have done that. The mynewsmile site, pre-screens dentists for their technical training as well as the artistry of their work. Only those who pass his rigorous standards can be listed. Any dentist on that site can give you a beautiful, natural-looking result.

Should You Whiten First

I don’t know if your dentist mentioned this, but the color that is created for your dental bonding is permanent. If you were to whiten your teeth at a later date, your natural tooth structure would whiten, but not the bonding. Therefore, most cosmetic dentists will warn their patients if they are even considering getting their teeth whitened, it will save them money to do it before they have the bonding done. This will save them money by not having to replace the bonding after they whiten.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Dental Bonding Disaster

Posted on August 2, 2020 by writeradmin.

I had several teeth get have dental bonding done because of abfraction lesions. Before this (aside from the lesions) my smile was beautiful. Now, it looks darker, dull, and feels rough. Is it possible for this to be removed and re-done to where the teeth look natural or will it damage the underlying tooth to replace it? Also, one of them popped off. I’m guessing that is not normal.

Meagan

Dear Meagan,

$An image of an abfraction lesion.$ It is a real shame you are dealing with this. And you are right that having your dental bonding pop off isn’t normal. Let’s start with abfraction lesions for the benefit o those who may not know what they are. As you can see from the picture to the left, the gum tissue has pulled away from the tooth.

We used to think this was from brushing too hard, but now we believe it has much more to do teeth grinding or clenching, which will cause the tooth to flex a little. This weakens your tooth which will lead to the tissue being worn away at the gumline. Your dentist can fill these areas with dental composite material and it shouldn’t be that hard. Obviously, for your dentist it was.

This dental bonding can be re-done, possibly even resurfaced without having to re-do the whole thing. Your dentist should either be willing to re-do them or to give you a refund so you can get them done elsewhere by someone more qualified. If he re-does them, it is important that he uses a more flexible dental bonding material, such as Silux Plus and Renamel. Using this type of material that can flex a bit will ensure they stay put and not pop out on you anymore.

As for getting it to match, that shouldn’t be that hard, yet he is still struggling with it. It can be made to mate to match perfectly. Don’t let your dentist tell you otherwise.

Directly above is a case Dr. Delaune did on some gapped teeth which should give you some idea of how well direct dental bonding can blend into the natural tooth structure and still look beautiful.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Dental Bonding Turning Yellow

Posted on June 11, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dental bonding for just a few days. I really liked how they looked, but they’ve started turning yellow. I can’t think of anything I’ve done to them except maybe the fact that I brush with baking soda. Is that a problem with bonding? Is it possible for me to whiten them?

Karyn

Dear Karyn,

As you can see from the picture above, as well as the results you had, dental bonding can look both beautiful and natural, when well done by a skilled cosmetic dentist. Unfortunately, your dentist neglected to instruct you on how to properly care for them. The likely damage culprit, in your case, is the baking soda. It is an abrasive. This will damage the polish on your dental bonding enabling them to pick up stains.

I think your dentist should be willing to re-do the polish on them without charge for a couple of reasons:

First, he should have told you how to care for your new dental work. His neglect to do so led to this problem.
Second, it hasn’t been that long since you had the bonding done. It shouldn’t be a problem for him to work with this.

Taking Care of your Dental Bonding

The first thing I want to recommend is you get some Supersmile Toothpaste. This is specifically designed to work with cosmetic dental work and will protect it while safely removing stains.

Unfortunately, teeth whitening won’t work. It will whiten your natural tooth structure but not your bonding. This is why I recommended instead you have your dentist re-polish them.

I would also like you to look at this link. It is a fairly extensive article on dental bonding. If you scroll down, there is a section just devoted to how to properly care for your new bonding.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.