My daughter had a nasty fall that took out a chunk of her two front teeth. I took her to the pediatric dentist we normally go to and he suggested that it be filled with dental bonding. We agreed, trusting he knew what he was doing. Unfortunately, that did not pan out. The bonding looks lumpy and her two front teeth are now uneven. I wondered if this can be fixed. She is absolutely devastated. She is about to start sixth grade at a new school and does not want to look like this.
Kelli
Dear Kelli,
It can be fixed, but with dental bonding that mostly means having it re-done. I’m sorry your daughter is facing this. She’s at a tender age for her self-image, so you want this to be done right. While I am sure your dentist had the best of intentions, dental bonding is quite an advanced cosmetic procedure because it has to be done freehand. Not many dentists have the skills to do this because it requires post-doctoral training. In addition to the ability to sculpt the bonding, it requires materials and tints that most general and pediatric dentists don’t have.
What you really need is a dentist who is skilled in cosmetic work, and specifically in dental bonding. Because of your daughter’s age, most dentists should be willing to work with her. It does not have to be a pediatric dentist. As long as she is able to sit still she should do just fine.
One thing I would do before committing to a dentist is to look at their smile gallery to make certain they can produce beautiful results. If they don’t have a smile gallery, they are not serious about cosmetic dentistry. You’ll also want to make sure that the before and after images are actually of work the dentist has done himself and not just stock photos.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.