My teeth were stained and chipped, so my dentist offered dental bonding as a solution. She said that porcelain veneers were too aggressive. When she finished the bonding, my teeth looked bulky, and even my dentist agreed that the bonding changed my speech. She asked me to give it some time to see if I had adjusted. Otherwise, she would remove the bonding. Last week, my dentist removed the bonding because I could not adjust to how it felt. Also, it made my smile look horrible. Now my teeth look worse than before. Not only do I still have chips in my teeth, but they also look patchy. I’m unsure if my dentist knows what she is doing, so I am afraid to let her try again. But what do I ask for if I switch to a new dentist – bonding or veneers? Thank you.
Rena from Las Vegas
Rena,
Thank you for your question. One of our dentists would need to examine your teeth to see what happened, but we can offer some advice.
How Can Bulky Dental Bonding Affect Your Smile?
When dental bonding is too bulky, it can affect you in several ways:
- Interferes with your speech
- Creates an unattractive smile
- Traps food and can lead to tooth decay or disease
Removing Dental Bonding
A skilled cosmetic dentist knows which tools and techniques to remove composite bonding without damaging tooth enamel. Your description sounds like your dentist might have removed a small amount of tooth enamel.
Dental Bonding or Porcelain Veneers?
Whether a dentist recommends dental bonding or porcelain veneers depends on the condition and location of the teeth that require cosmetic dentistry. Teeth with extensive damage or decay may require alternative treatment.
Instead of allowing your dentist to correct her work, we recommend scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist who will look at your teeth and recommend treatment. Eventually, you will need an examination and possibly x-rays to look for any damage to your teeth. Afterward, the dentist will explain your options and how bonding and porcelain veneers compare.
Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. David Finley sponsors this post.