Tag: replace dental bonding posts

My Teeth Are Patchy and Discolored After Dental Bonding Removal

In July, I had bonding placed on several teeth to correct chips and wear. Unfortunately, the bonding felt too thick and made it difficult to speak normally, so I asked my dentist to remove it.

Now my teeth have uneven coloring and look patchy. Both my dentist and a second dentist she recommended say this is my natural tooth color. I disagree, and I’ve looked at close-up pictures of myself and can’t see uneven color in my teeth. I’m very upset and concerned that removing the bonding damaged my enamel. How can I find out what happened? – Thanks. Olga from TX

Olga,

We can understand your disappointment. You had bonding to improve the appearance of your teeth, but it didn’t improve their appearance, and it affected your speech. Now that you’ve had it removed, you’re concerned that your natural teeth have been damaged.

Should Dental Bonding Make Your Teeth Feel Thick?

Properly placed dental bonding should follow your teeth’s natural contours without making them noticeably bulky. When bonding repairs chipped or worn teeth, the dentist should focus on replacing the missing tooth structure. Adding too much composite can make the teeth look unnatural and interfere with normal speech. Bulky bonding can also create areas that trap food and plaque, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease.

Based on your description, we question why your treatment required so much bonding material that it affected your speech. A cosmetic dentist with the appropriate skills should be able to repair minor wear and chips without significantly increasing the size of your teeth.

Why Do Your Teeth Look Patchy After Bonding Removal?

Your teeth may look patchy because some bonding material remains, the enamel surface has changed, or the procedure removed a small amount of enamel.

Removing composite bonding is not always as straightforward as it sounds. Although some dentists describe bonding as reversible, composite resin and tooth enamel can look remarkably similar.

This makes it difficult to determine exactly where the bonding ends and the natural tooth begins. During removal, a dentist can unintentionally remove a thin layer of enamel.

We cannot confirm that this happened in your case. However, we would not dismiss your concerns simply because two dentists believe the discoloration was already there.

The dentist who provided the second opinion did not see your teeth before treatment. Without earlier photographs or other records, that dentist cannot know exactly how they looked. Ideally, your original dentist would have taken photographs before placing the bonding to compare your teeth before and after treatment, as you did.

How Can a Dentist Correct the Appearance of Your Teeth?

We suggest getting an independent evaluation from a dentist with extensive cosmetic dentistry experience. That dentist can examine the enamel and determine which treatment would give you the best results.

You have two main restorative options:

• New composite bonding: A skilled cosmetic dentist may be able to restore the shape and color of your teeth without adding unnecessary bulk.
• Porcelain veneers: Veneers offer a more durable, stain-resistant alternative. Although the initial cost is higher, veneers’ longer lifespan may make them worthwhile for some patients.

You can also ask your original dentist about a refund. If you have quality photos documenting the appearance of your teeth before treatment, they may help prove that the bonding removal caused damage.

For now, focus on finding a cosmetic dentist who can determine what happened and help you achieve the natural-looking smile you originally wanted.

Dr. Thaddeus Michalski, a Rocky Hill, Connecticut dentist, sponsors this post. Read why many of his patients say he is one of the best dentists in town.