How often can a composite filling be changed? What can I do about an awkward dental crown and a discolored composite filling?

Question

I had a chip on my front tooth that was fixed with a composite filling. It has been 6 months but it is noticeably stained and looks bad. I also had a porcelain fused to metal crown put in next to the filled front tooth. I feel like the crown looks unnatural; sometimes too bright and sometimes too dark. I used to be confident with my smile and now I feel depressed because of my teeth. I ask my family and friends if it is super noticeable and they say no, but they are lying. I need some advice!

Sarah Thompson, DMD · Answer

Hello there,I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with your smile.  Composite bonding should always be thought of as a temporary fix. For a permanent solution, I would recommend a porcelain veneer or crown.  Also, you may want to consider having your current crown replaced.  I never use porcelain fused to metal crowns on front teeth because they aren't as aesthetically pleasing.  It's important to look at before and after photos when choosing a dentist. This will give you a pretty good indication of what you can expect from the dentist that you select. Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMDSt. Louis, MO area (O'Fallon, IL)Real Self 100

Desiree Yazdan, DDS · Answer

Hi! I'm sorry you don't feel confident about your teeth!  You can have the composite changed again if you like.  You may like it better if you have a porcelain veneer placed on that tooth, and replace the crown on the tooth next to it.  I would recommend an all ceramic crown, rather than a porcelain fused to metal crown.  It will look more natural and it won't be so dark up around your gumline.  Please make sure to do some research on a dentist that is very experienced in cosmetics prior to having any work done!

Mufaddal Kapadia, DDS · Answer

Hello!Unfortunately, porcelain fused to metal crowns can be too "opaque" not allowing light to shine through your tooth like our natural teeth do. So then, in certain lights it can appear too bright or dark. In order to resolve this, we typically do all porcelain crowns on front teeth for optimal esthetic results.  If you did not have enough tooth structure to shave down, it may not have been an option to do an all porcelain crown, so that is a conversation you may want to have with your dentist. Bonding/composite will stain and discolor overtime and unfortunately is a temporary solution. Seeing a qualified cosmetic dentist will get you the best results - ask to see his or her work on different cases so you can decide if they are the best fit for you.  Good luck!

Yocasta Caba, DDS · Answer

Doctors should take care about putting composite filling.m Is important to let the patients know that composite is resin and a patients should qualify for it. For example, a patients who used to drick coffee, tea, wine and eat staining food aren´t good candidates for resin and also sometimes dentists can put a clear plastic coating over the composite to prevent the color from changing if a patient is particularly concerned about tooth color and thats why we peffer not to use it. I recommended you to replace it with porcelain veneers or a porcelain crown (Just if is necesary) and talk to your doctor about this. Good luck, i hope it help.

How often can a composite filling be changed? What can I do about an awkward dental crown and a discolored composite filling?

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Answer: Awkward dental crown

Answer: Awkward dental crown

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How often can a composite filling be changed? What can I do about an awkward dental crown and a discolored composite filling?

Answers (4)

Answer: Awkward dental crown

Answer: Awkward dental crown

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Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.