When I had a badly decayed tooth extracted, I got a partial denture to fill in the gap. I didn't mind it at first, because I was just so happy to have my painful tooth out of my mouth. Over time, I began to get tired of taking it out at night. I asked my dentist if I was could get a dental implant, and he said that my gum disease did not make me a good candidate, but a fixed bridge may be a good option for me. I went with his suggestion, and I have no regrets. I love feeling like I have a real tooth again that I don't have to remove at night. I created this blog to remind other people with a missing tooth that they have many replacement options, and if one is not for you, then try another that may be right.
Whitening your teeth certainly seemed like a good idea—until you remembered your dental bonding. Your bonding has created a new outer layer for your tooth (or teeth), using tooth-colored composite resin to improve the shape or color of the tooth, or even to close minor gaps. The trouble is that this resin is not permeable in the same way as a tooth's natural structure. This means it won't whiten, and you may have accidentally given different teeth in your mouth different colors.
Microscopic Pores
Teeth become discolored because the various staining agents in the foods and drinks you consume can enter the microscopic pores in the surface enamel of your teeth. The bleaching agent in most teeth whitening gels is hydrogen peroxide, and this can similarly enter the pores of your tooth enamel to remove ingrained discoloration. The trouble is that your dental bonding lacks these pores.
Increasing the Color Difference
Teeth whitening gels (or strips, or pens) will be ineffective on composite resin dental bonding. Repeat applications will make no difference to your bonded teeth, and will likely increase the whiteness of your natural tooth enamel. This will further increase the color difference between your bonded and natural teeth. The unfortunate effect you've accidentally created can only be reversed by a cosmetic dentist.
What Can't Happen
A cosmetic dentist can't easily lighten existing dental bonding, nor can they simply darken whitened tooth enamel to match your bonding (and you probably wouldn't want this second option anyway). Instead, your existing bonding will be removed. The process is actually incredibly simple.
Your Existing Bonding
Your dentist will attach a tiny sanding disc to a handheld tool. The disc then revolves at high speeds, and the composite resin is delicately (although quickly) buffed away from the surfaces of your teeth. Your teeth will now be the color that they were prior to bonding, and any abnormalities or excessive gaps will once again be visible.
Finishing Touches for Your Bonding
The re-bonding of your teeth will now take place. Your cosmetic dentist will carefully prepare a composite dental resin that matches the color of your whitened dental enamel. As per the first time your teeth were bonded, the material is applied to the tooth's surface, sculpted as needed, and then set with a special curing light. The resin can then be polished so it replicates the look of tooth enamel. And now your bonded teeth and your natural teeth are the same color.
If you should ever mistakenly try to whiten your bonded teeth, remember that the multiple hues of color that might be created will need to be corrected by a cosmetic dentist.
Share29 May 2023
