I had dental bonding placed just three weeks ago. They are already beginning to pick up stains which worries me. I think it may be because I drink coffee, though my dentist never mentioned I would have to give that up. I keep hearing Supersmile toothpaste is good for dental stains. Would this work in my case and allow me to drink coffee again?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
While dental bonding does stain over time, it should definitely not be staining in just a few weeks. Bear in mind that I haven’t examined you. However, I do have a suspicion of what is going on here. There is a difference in technical knowledge and artistry between your basic family dentist and those who have invested a lot of time and money in cosmetic training.
Because cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, it is up to the dentist how much training that he or she invests in. I suspect that your dentist only has the most basic understanding when it comes to dental bonding.
With dental bonding, there are a variety of materials. The composite in dental bonding is done with a plastic resin and inorganic fillers. It’s the fillers that can make the biggest difference in their longevity and appearance.
The materials can use silica, quartz, glass and even some other options. No matter which your dentist uses, they all come in different sizes. While hybrid composites will be stronger, they cannot be polished to high shine. Microfills, as you can probably tell from their name, are extremely small. They are not as strong as the hybrids, but they can be polished to a luster so high that it mimics tooth enamel. These type of fillers are called high gloss composites. There are some newer nanofill composites that are making the claim of providing both strength and luster. I hope that ends up being the case!
Most general family dentists will only keep the hybrid composites on hand because they do not do a lot of cosmetic work. This is because they are focusing on strength and not appearance. However, cosmetic dentists keep the entire variety of fillers and mix them in a way that provides both strength and luster.
They do that by using the stronger hybrid fillers in the interior part of the bonding restoration. Then, they will apply the microfill fillers to the surface in order to get that high luster. Doing that gives you strength while looking shiny and protecting you from staining.
I suggest you go back to your dentist and ask them to polish it to a high shine so that it will resist staining. If they cannot do that, you need to find an expert cosmetic dentist. If that becomes the case, look for someone who is AACD accredited.
One other thing to note. If the bonding covers the entire surface of your teeth, you will be better off getting porcelain veneers placed. They are much more stain resistant and will last significantly longer than dental bonding. Bear in mind that these also will need to be done by an expert cosmetic dentist.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.