Composite Bonding Restoration, How Long Until It Starts Feeling Normal?

It appears you are very enthusiastic about the cosmetic result and that's great!  A few questions to have a better understanding:  Was local anesthesia required and was any tooth structure/enamel removed?  When do they feel unnatural?  Is it when you bite, chew, drink, grind or sensitive to hot/cold?  Or is it all the time?  If it's chewing, biting or grinding, the bonding can be adjusted to eliminate any interferences.  If they feel unnatural with your tongue, it may be an issue of the surface texture where it's rough or "gritty".  This can be easily fixed with special polishing techniques and instruments that utilize varying textures and coarseness from coarse to very fine, and pastes to create smoothness and natural luster.  It could also be the contact between the adjacent teeth;  the teeth may feel very "tight" with one another.  When you floss does it shred or get stuck in between the teeth?  If that's the case, perhaps have your dentist very gently recontour and polish in between to create a little more space.  But this must be done very carefully because you do not want to strip too much composite away, otherwise it will open a gap between your teeth.  You always want to have contact and some resistance as you are going up and down with floss.  Hope this helps, good luck!

If you have ever had braces you probably remember how weird they felt when they were first placed.  It took a while to adapt and get used to the brackets on your teeth, but it happened.  Also, when you have the brackets removed when your braces are done, again, it probably felt weird, like something was missing and there was an odd void between your lip and teeth.You are capable of adapting to the different tooth shape/size.  However, if there is something about them that is bothering you, length, thickness/bulkiness, then let your dentist know so they can best help you get comfortable.  

Dental bonding is a great form of treatment for fractured teeth, but the size of the fracture will make a difference in the prognosis of the restoration. For large-sized fractures, such as yours, it would be better to place veneers rather than dental bonding.  Veneers are stronger than composite bonding and last longer. 

If your bondings don't feel normal, it may be because they are close to your nerve.  You should follow up with your dentist.  Also, be careful not to bite into hard foods with your front teeth.  All the best, Dr. Elizabeth Jahanian

Typically it would be safe to expect your new composite restorations to feel normal within a week or two.  If it has been longer than that, it may be a good idea to re-visit your Dentist and have them polished or adjusted.

I am sorry about the broken front teeth but I am glad you decided on bonding since it preserves the natural structure of the tooth and there is very little reduction. Also I am glad that they look so natural and you are happy .  If they FEEL unnatural and it has been two weeks since the procedure, I would call your dentist and set up an appointment to find out what is wrong. Sometimes when teeth are bonded  they feel as little rough here and there and maybe the roughness can be smoothed out or your bite could be a little off .  You did not mention that you were in any pain so I will not address nerve trauma from what ever caused your teeth to break.  My suggestion is go back to your dentist and sort this out with him...I am assured he can make this work for you!

This is an excellent choice for replacing missing tooth structure. The dental bonding procedure helps maintain the existing tooth structure in its natural state with minimal reduction. Sometimes after the restoration is placed the composite material may feel somewhat different. Sometimes simple polishing can correct this problem. If the tooth feels unnatural do to the trauma then that should be evaluated and treated by the dentist.  Sometimes the nerve and surrounding periodontal tissues are damage in trauma and the tooth feel differently for an unknown period of time.  I would recommend a 3, 6, 12 month followup.

Dr. C

The real question that needs to be answered is if the bonding feels unnatural or if it is the tooth that feels funny.

If the tooth feels tender or tingly it might be a nerve issue requiring a root canal.  If the bonding feels different, perhaps it is not smooth enough or too thick or a different shape then your natural tooth was.  These are variables that can easily be corrected.  

The fact that you mentioned they look great is a testament to the esthetic skills of your dentists.  I suggest to talk to your dentist about this situation.

 

Ronald W. Konig DDS,FAGD,LVIF

First of all, congratulations on chosing an excellent procedure, bonding, to improve your smile.  For most patients, I would say that 2 weeks is  a reasonable time for your lips, tongue and bite to adjust to a new bonding.  If it still feels unnatural, it could be something as simple as needing a slight adjustment to the bite or length of the bonding.  The best advice is to ask the dentist if you could have a follow-up appointment to check if any slight adjustments are needed.  I'm happy that you like the appearance and don't worry it sounds like it is a minor fix if needed.

If something does not feel normal after a dental restoration for more then a couple days, a call should always be made to your dentist as he knows the conditions of your tooth and can reassure you or request you come in to check it out.  As mentioned, it can be any thing from a high bite, to a failing nerve or just a rough filling.  Bottom line a tooth should always return to a normal feeling within a few days after care.  Good luck!

Composites for use in dentistry have come such long way that it is possible for an artistic dentist to create beautiful life like restorations.  It sounds like your dentist is one of those dentists! 

When you say the teeth don't feel natural I wonder what you mean exactly.  There are a few ways that your tooth could feel unnatural.

1)  The finish might not be as highly polished as your natural teeth.  This can be corrected by your dentist very easily.

2)  The bite may need adjusting.  If the bite feels "high" or the tooth feels too thick on the back, this must be adjusted by your dentist.  It won't get better on its own and it could weaken the bonding.

3)  Is the tooth sensitive to hot, cold, pressure, sour, or acid foods?  If it is, the trauma of the tooth breaking could have precipitated the need for a root canal treatment.  Have your dentist test the vitality of the nerve in your tooth to be sure it is healthy.

These are some of the possible reasons that your teeth don't feel natural yet.  Be proactive and have your dentist assess them to avoid any major problems.