Without photos it's hard to tell But if you don't like the results of your bonding, then there's a fair chance the original dentist didn't change your tooth underneath. To close a space, expert cosmetic dentists will usually place some bonding below the gum line to make the shape look more natural. This will sometimes be done "prep-less" where no drill is used, or "prepped" where some of your natural tooth is changed/reshaped first. My suspicion is that if you want your bonding removed, it does not look very natural to you. And if this is the case, your first dentist may have only placed bonding on top of the teeth without "prepping" them. If the teeth were in fact "prepped" then a great cosmetic dentist can recreate your original look from past photos, etc. Yes bonding can be removed without hurting your tooth Bonding can be carefully removed with special instruments that exclusively remove the material without altering or damaging your natural tooth. As long as your first dentist didn't change your natural tooth, you can 100% get your natural appearance back without damage to them. See an expert cosmetic dentist Whether just to remove the old bonding, or if you would like new bonding that better closes your space in a natural-looking way, be sure to seek a cosmetic dentist that can show you their OWN before and after images of exactly this type of procedure. (Watch out for "stock photography"... which has nothing to do with that doctor's artistic abilities. Any experienced cosmetic dentist will have these before and after images very readily available for you to see. Best, Dr. Jason
Imagine Two Artists Imagine asking two portrait artists which paint is better - oil paints or acrylics? Each artist has a preferred artistic medium, and either artist might be able to paint a beautiful portrait that looks realistic and lasts. But which one is better? If you asked the oil painter to paint you a acrylic portrait, you might not get the kind of result you were expecting. And that painter might tell you that acrylic paint is dull, drippy, and can't look real. They're not lying to you, but in their limited experience of working with a different artistic medium, they believe that the same result "just cannot be achieved." They key is finding the uniquely talented artists that can work with both both oils and acrylics... and maybe even watercolors too. See where this is heading? Comparable Options Composite and Porcelain Veneers are nearly 100% comparable options in the modern day. Modern composite is super strong, beautiful, and highly polishable. The difference today is really which artistic medium best achieves your desired result. Either porcelain or composite veneers sometimes requires taking the dental drill to the whole visible surface of the tooth. And sometimes no use of the drill is necessary at all for either option. In my practice, the fee for composite veneers and porcelain veneers are the same. We choose together which material to use based on the amount of damage originally done to the tooth, your color goals, the existing dentistry that may be present, etc. The key is finding a cosmetic dentist who has both training AND experience with both materials. Beware of Overly Strong Opinions and "Oil-Only Painters" Any dentist who would tell you that composite is dull, weak, or has bad margins is simply not experienced with working with that material. Or their personal experience has, in fact, been very bad. This is the oil painter that tells you that acrylics or watercolor paint is a horrible artistic medium. They are right... but only for them. Some dentists are extremely talented with porcelain. It's their preferred artistic medium, and the material they gravitate most towards as "the best." Some dentists are extremely talented with composite resins, and prefer that as their artistic medium. You might consider asking your dentist about their experience with both materials, and their experience and results with them. And if you are really hoping to weigh your options between Porcelain vs. Composite, you might choose to seek out someone who truly works with both. Accomplished cosmetic dentists will be very happy to share with you before and after examples of their work with both materials. No matter which option you ultimately choose... BOTH materials require special care and maintenance! Jason R. Tubo, DMD, MAGD
If your main concern is a tooth-size discrepancy, I would recommend starting with advanced composite bonding. This can even be done as a non-bonded practice or "mock-up" with most experienced cosmetic dentists. Your concerns may be as simple as altering the shape of a central tooth slightly, or adding dimension to your lateral teeth to make the central teeth look less prominent. In most bites, your lower teeth tell your upper teeth where they should be, so sometimes treating this orthodontically can be challenging. It may be smart to seek out a cosmetic dentist that also understands and performs orthodontic procedures. Veneers can be beautiful, but can be especially damaging to your natural teeth when you're trying to make something look smaller.
Photos would be especially helpful to help answer your questions. Yes resin veneers can often be done instead of porcelain and will often times last as long as porcelain. The big question in your case is why do your front teeth need to be lengthened, and why do they have stress fractures? If they have worn away and become shorter over time, then it might be because of a problem with your bite and with your back teeth. I often tell my clients that you can't have front teeth for very long without strong back teeth to protect them. Your dentist is most likely trying to help you protect your investment in your front teeth by making sure your back teeth are able to do their job well. If you are not OK with having crowns done for your back teeth, you might consider consulting with an orthodontist instead to discuss moving your back teeth into the proper positions to best protect your front teeth. Good luck in building your best smile! - Dr. Jason
Replacing four upper front teeth and four lower front teeth could be done for as little as $1500 with removable plastic dentures to as much as $60,000 with implants, advanced bone grafting, and mastery level porcelain aesthetics. Without photos of your current situation, and without knowing what your final goals and expectations are, it is not possible to give a narrower answer. Good luck in building your best smile!
