I wonder if you can help me. Two of my front teeth have dental bonding on them that are about 15 years old. I know it is time to get them replaced, but my finances aren’t that great right now. I know that you cannot make dental bonding any whiter by bleaching them, but can you whiten them back to their original color?
Daniel M.- New Jersey
Daniel,
No teeth whitening method will make your dental bonding any whiter. In fact, it will only make them look worse because your natural teeth will get whitened from the bleaching. If your discoloration is from external stains instead of inside the bonding material, it is possible the discoloration could be polished away. Be sure you get an expert cosmetic dentist to do this, otherwise you could end up with a disaster.
If, however, the stains are internal, polishing won’t help. They will have to be replaced. With your finances currently not where you want them for replacement, my recommendation will be to leave it as is and wait until you can afford to get them replaced. Don’t look for a bargain by finding an “affordable” cosmetic dentist. As with the polishing, be sure you get them done by a highly qualified cosmetic dentist. If you want it done right, and with it being your front teeth that is even more important, you need someone with an artistic touch. To find a great cosmetic dentist in your area, you can check on mynewsmile.com. They screen cosmetic dentists from each state checking both their educational qualifications as well as their artistic expertise with their cosmetic work.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods cosmetic dentist Dr. Ted Hadgis.