I got dental bonding on my two front teeth about ten years ago. The bonding filled in chips on both teeth. I decided to refresh the bonding since it was beginning to look yellow. Although my dentist was confident she could do the bonding, it was the wrong color. The bonding is stark white and looks a bit grainy. My dentist’s answer is it looks better than the old bonding.
Also, one tooth is longer than the other, so I asked her to shave it. Unfortunately, she shaved it too short. So, I have too white and grainy bonding, and one tooth is too short. Now, my dentist says that sometimes it’s challenging to get bonding to match teeth perfectly. That’s her way of saying she does not know what she is doing. This is shameful. My dentist asked me to let her try again, but this process made me anxious. Other than this bonding work, I’m happy with my dentist. Is bonding that difficult? Should I give her another chance? Thank you. Leigh Anne from CA
Leigh Anne,
Dental bonding can be challenging for most dentists—especially on front teeth. Dental bonding is an art. Dentists need training to understand which tools, materials, and techniques produce results that look real. Applying bonding to teeth is like painting a beautiful picture on a canvas. It takes time and skill. Bonding can be an affordable alternative to porcelain veneers.
How to Get Dental Bonding to Match on Front Teeth
Getting dental bonding to match on front teeth begins with a cosmetic dentist for several reasons:
- Cosmetic dentists skilled with bonding stock materials of varying color, texture, and translucence.
- They understand how to blend the materials to replicate your tooth color, texture, and structure.
- Some cosmetic dentists do it so well that you cannot distinguish the bonding from natural teeth.
- Most dentists stick with what they were taught in dental school, which is insufficient to give you beautiful results.
Cosmetic dentists also understand how a patient’s smile can affect them emotionally. They listen to the patient, prepare to meet how you want your smile to look, and match your expectations. If you are unhappy with your smile, neither is a cosmetic dentist until they get it right.
Schedule a Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation
Dental bonding restored a chipped tooth and perfectly matches the adjacent tooth
We recommend scheduling a cosmetic consultation with a dentist who has advanced bonding training and experience.
David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.