I’m sending photos of the dental bonding on my sister’s front teeth. It is too white, noticeably whiter than her incisors. and I think is a dental bonding error on her teeth, but her dentist won’t admit it. The dentist hid the gap between my sister’s center front teeth and bonded her lateral incisors to enlarge them. When the dentist showed my sister the results, she immediately noticed the blue/gray shade of her front teeth and that her lateral incisors didn’t match her front teeth or the others.
The center front teeth and color look good, but the dentist told her he intentionally made the incisors match her eye teeth. Recently, he told her he used the same material on all four teeth. The dentist says he wants further payment to correct it, although my sister has already paid a little over $1000 for the work.
Please review the pictures and let us know if this is a bonding mistake. My sister is anxious about needing more dental appointments and prefers not to talk about what’s happening. I want to help her. Thanks for your time. Nylah from CO
Nylah
It sounds as if your sister’s dentist realizes the mistake he made. Tooth shade in a natural smile should reflect the following:
- Central incisors – Whitest shade
- Lateral incisors – Slightly lighter
- Canines – Slightly lighter than incisors
We attached the photos you sent (they are a little blurry) to this post, and we agree. They reflect a bonding mistake that advanced cosmetic dentists don’t make. Your sister’s two lateral incisors are even darker than her canine teeth. Although you didn’t mention the shape of your sister’s bonded teeth, they look off, in addition to the color mistake.
What Can You Do When Dental Bonding Doesn’t Match Your Teeth?
When dental bonding doesn’t match your teeth, you can do the following:
- Ask the dentist to correct it – Although your sister can ask the dentist to correct her tooth shade, it’s clear that her dentist doesn’t have advanced training or skill in cosmetic dentistry. The results she will get are unpredictable, but the dentist should be willing to redo the composite on the lateral incisors with a shade that’s only slightly darker than the central incisors.
- Get a second opinion – If your sister is uncomfortable with the dentist correcting his work or unwilling to correct it, your sister can get a second opinion from an advanced cosmetic dentist. Advanced cosmetic dentists use new bonding technology to achieve smooth, even results and a perfect seal on teeth. If your sister needs to switch dentists, ask her to research dentists with advanced cosmetic dentistry training.
A cosmetic dentist can also explain how sedation can calm your sister’s anxiety during dental procedures.
Sugar Land implant and cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post. Read how he strives to give patients some of the best dental care in Sugar Land.