Dental Bonding: Q&A
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Old Bonding Has Discolored. Can This Be Retouched Up Without Drilling?
I have anxiety and cannot be numbed up. For the most part my bonding is still very much in tact. I would just like it touched up if possible to whiten my front teeth. Is this possible to do without having to drill out the teeth and start over again? Any opinions on whiteners like Supersmile that are supposed to whiten these dental bonds?
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20 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
kitt
in prior lake
+4
Retouching old bonding
While not the ideal way to do it, it is possible to add to old composite bonding material. If the areas to be
retouched aren't too extensive, it's also possible to do it comfortably without being numb. I would want to roughen the old bonding surface first though, and that means using a drill at least a little. This is done to get the best bond of new material to old. Composite filling material (bonding) can often extend further and deeper than it appears, so changing large...
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+3
SuperSmile Toothpaste is great for maintenance care.
Great question about re- bonding to old composite. It is always challenging. The main reason is that the old composites are saturated with saliva. To re-bond you need non contaminated enamel. Sometimes you can do a little spot and need a sand blaster to remove the outer layer. My experience has been that removing the old composite and providing a clean surface guarantees a great result that will last.
I suggest...
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+3
You can touch up or repair old bonding.
Depending on the condition and amount of unsightly, damaged, or discolored bonding, you can repair most bonding if it had looked good to begin with. It normally can be done comfortably without the need for anesthesia. No tooth structure need be removed/ prepared in the process. If the problem is mainly discoloration some of the discolored surface material should be removed. Unless the discoloration is due to surface stains then...
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+2
Touching up old bonding
In certain cases bonding can be touched up or made to appear brighter by polishing out superficial stains. This is a non-invasive procedure that does not require anesthesia. If the staining is to deep or caused by tooth decay, it may be necessary to remove parts of the bonding or parts of the affected tooth. One consideration for you if anesthesia is a problem or phobia of needles is a concern, would be to look into some type of sedation where any necessary dental...
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Omaha Cosmetic Dentist
+2
Retouching discolored bonding
Older bonding materials were notorious for discoloring over time. Modern composite bonding materials are far more color stable and resist staining than the older tooth colored materials. If the material itself has discolored and there is no evidence of recurrent decay then simply abrading and polishing the surface of the filling may return the resoration to it's original appearance. If an x-ray reveals decay under or around the filling or a dark line or opening is seen...
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Springfield Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Repair Old Bonding With Sedation
In many cases it is possible to repair old bonding without numbing the patient, but slight "drilling" would be necessary. Your dentist can remove a small portion of the existing bonding making room for the new bonding. Though this process is many time not invasive, it seems that you may have slight dental anxiety. You may be a great candidate for oral sedation. You would take a pill the morning of the appointment (approximately one hour prior to the...
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+1
Discolored old bonding
A few things to consider: How did you have your teeth bonded the first time? How old is the original bonding? What are your habits (coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco use, etc)? Have you tried or considered some sort of sedation option (nitrous oxide, happy pills, IV sedation)? Assuming there are no underlying issues with the teeth (sensitivity, decay, open margins, etc), and that this is purely a color issue, the bonding can, in most cases, be re-surfaced without...
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+1
Re-bonding without Freezing or use of Drill
Very frequently you can avoid being frozen for certain fillings including ones that only need to be changed due to discolouration. The use of an Erbium Laser (Hard tissue laser) can eliminate the need for any freezing but majority of dentist do not use such lasers. If the filling in question does not have a cavity and is stable then only the top layer might be needed to be removed and replaced with a lighter shade. Such approach is more superficial not requiring the...
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Toronto Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Re-surfacing old bonding can be Painless
The great thing about a lot of bonding procedures is that they are usually painless. The other thing is that old bonded fillings can be repaired/re-newed. As long as there isn't any sign of bacterial leakage under the old bonding, the surface can be polished or re-surfaced to make it look as good as new.
Toronto Cosmetic Dentist
+1
Repairing bonding
Most tooth bonding can be repaired without the need for local anesthesia, as long as there is no internal tooth decay.
Laurel Cosmetic Dentist
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