I had some dental bonding done in order to cover some fluorosis stains. It wasn’t that great a job because I could still see some of the stains beneath the bonding. However, three days later the bonding just fell right off. In a way, it was a blessing because I thought this is my chance to get them done again with the color corrected. He replaced the dental bonding a few days later and made them thicker in order to cover the stains a bit better. Unfortunately, while it did cover the stains a bit better, the bonding again only lasted three days before it fell off. My dentist told me that this happens sometimes because they are temporary, but this seems to be happening every time. Also, he originally told me the temporary was 5 years, not a few days. Do I just keep going back?

Rodney

Dear Rodney,

Do not keep going back to this dentist. He is in over his head. instead, I want you to ask for a full refund. Normally, in cosmetic dentistry, it can be a bit tricky to get a refund. This is especially true if the only thing you don’t like about them is their appearance. This is the one place where your dentist’s incompetence will work in your favor. A basic tenet of dentistry is that the work actually stays on your teeth. You have a great case for a refund.

Bonding is not the difficult part of the procedure. The challenge comes in adequately matching the bonding to the teeth, while making it all look natural and vibrant. To get the dental bonding to stay on, you just need a few steps. The dentist will start with etching the enamel, then rinsing and drying it. You’ll know the tooth is etched adequately if it develops a frosty appearance.

Once that is done, he will apply the bonding agent and use a curing light to cure it. The composite is then placed over the cured bonding agent. It should stay just fine if those steps are taken correctly.

When you go to have this done elsewhere, you want a dentist who has advanced post-doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. Look at the credentials that Dr. Becker has to get an idea of what you want in the dentist who does your case.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.