dental bonding Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

Hello. I have permanent grayish stains on my teeth from medicine that was given to me as a baby. I had dental bonding put on my teeth to cover up the stains, but now the bonding is chipping and it looks a mess. It almost starting to look as bad as the original stains did. I know that porcelain veneers are the best choice, but I don’t have money for that. Is there a whitener that will help? Thank you. – Bobbie, Metairie

Bobbie,

The gray stains on your teeth are tetracycline stains. If tetracycline is taken while your teeth are forming, it deposits in your teeth and discolors them with gray or dark brown stains or bands.

An experienced cosmetic dentist can cover the stains with porcelain veneers, and create a new smile that looks like your natural teeth.

If veneers are not within your budget, here are two treatments that an experienced cosmetic dentist can use:

If some of your tooth enamel was not removed before the bonding was placed, the dentist can remove the bonding with sandpaper disks. In many states, and at a lower fee, a dental hygienist can remove the bonding. Then, you can get an at-home teeth whitening system from the dentist, which you’ll use every night for a couple of months. The at-home treatment is less expensive than in-office treatment. Although your teeth won’t look as good as they would with porcelain veneers, they will look much better. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products are not strong enough for tetracycline stains. If you can afford in-office teeth whitening, choose KöR® Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System. KöR has proven to be the most effective teeth bleaching treatment for tetracycline stains.

If some of your tooth enamel was removed before putting on the bonding, start saving for eight or ten porcelain veneers, and have them placed by an expert cosmetic dentist. Meanwhile, have the dentist smooth out the dental bonding, so that it looks better. You’ll find that the porcelain veneers will last many years, compared with the one or two years that dental bonding lasts.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie. Visit Dr. Delaune’s smile gallery to see tetracycline cases.

Hi. I have one more year left before I get my braces off, but I’m noticing that there are spots on my teeth from the braces. I don’t know why this is happening. But now I’m guessing that once the braces are off I’m going to need more work on my teeth to get these ugly spots off. Is this true? – Ethan K. from Avondale

Ethan – Yes, you will need additional work on your teeth to remove the spots—but not until the braces are removed. You should know that the spots are a result of food accumulating around the brackets of the braces. Bacteria from the food attack your teeth. After the brackets are taken off, you’ll see white or chalky spots. Because the spots are the result of bacteria from food, there is something that you can do now. Start brushing your teeth thoroughly—after every time that you eat. If the spots haven’t progressed too far, the saliva produced while brushing can repair some of the spots.

After your braces are removed, it can be determined if there is decay under the spots on your teeth. If the spots are not large, tooth bonding is the best way to treat them. Damaged tooth enamel will be brushed away, along with any decay beneath it. The affected area will be covered with dental bonding. For the best results, find a cosmetic dentist who loves creating beautiful smiles. He or she will have the proper materials and expertise to ensure that the bonding on your teeth looks natural.

If there is a lot of damage to the tooth enamel, it may be best to cover the tooth with porcelain veneers.

Beware that although some dentists might attempt to bleach the spots away, bleaching does not work in this case. Bleaching uniformly whitens teeth and will not remove the spots. It may make the spots more noticeable.

Remember to carry a toothbrush with you so that you can brush your teeth after every time that you eat. This will loosen the food particles from the brackets and prevent further damage to your teeth—keeping your teeth and your breath clean.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Tetracycline stains – can teeth whitening help?

What can I do about the spots that braces are making on my teeth?