I’ve had dental bonding done and really liked it. I was trying hard to take care of them. I even brushed with baking soda instead of regular toothpaste. Now am wondering if I did something wrong. I’ve only had them a week and they’re already starting to turn yellow. Is this normal or did I do something I didn’t know about? I really did like them. They made my teeth look straight.
Keely
Dear Keely,
I’m glad you liked how your dental bonding looked. My guess is the problem began with the baking soda. Most people don’t realize that baking soda is abrasive. This means it will scratch the surfaces of the polish on the dental bonding. When that happens, it will begin to pick up stains. Because it has been such a short period of time, your dentist should be willing to polish them back up for you. This is especially true because he is the one who neglected to tell you how to take care of them to begin with. I recommend anyone with dental work that they are trying to keep looking vibrant use Supersmile toothpaste. This is specifically designed for teeth with dental work on them. It will remove stains without any abrasives.
One thing to be aware of is that dental bonding doesn’t last forever. It will eventually need to be replaced. If you are looking for a more permanent solution to not just make your teeth look straight, but actually straighten them, I would recommend Invisalign. These use clear aligners instead of metal wires and brackets. The aligners can even double as teeth whitening trays which can allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.
However, this will only work if your dentist placed the bonding on top of your enamel instead of removing tooth enamel. If it happens that the enamel on your teeth was removed, then you will need a different permanent solution. In that case, I would suggest porcelain veneers. This is the go-to for celebrities looking for a total smile makeover. It can change the shape, size, color, even the character of your teeth. If taken care of, they can last a lifetime.
It does need to be done by an expert cosmetic dentist, though. Ideally, you’d want it to be done by an expert cosmetic dentist. Those who have been tried and literally tested are accredited with the AACD. These are the best cosmetic dentists. That would be my choice to ensure a beautiful smile. In fact, most even have a beautiful smile guarantee.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.