Tooth bonding near my gum line looks terrible. Can it be redone?

I developed these sensitive yellow notches near the gum line on several of my teeth, so my dentist put small fillings in them to prevent sensitivity.

Although the sensitivity is resolved, the problem now is that my teeth now look worse than when they had the yellow notches. The filling material color is just so off, and the filled spots look rough and opaque.

What can I do? Can I get these redone or am I stuck with this color? Could the dentist just patch a better color over them?

– Greg

Hello Greg,

We’re very sorry to hear about what you’ve gone through. Although we would normally encourage folks to see an expert cosmetic dentist to ensure they get natural-looking cosmetic dental work done, any good general dentist should be able to get the color right for the kind of restorations you had done.

So it does sound like you might want to try visiting a new dentist to get a better color match for your bonding.

On that note, let’s discuss your options for improving the look of your restorations. Keep in mind that these recommendations are based solely upon the information you have shared with us. You will need to seek a second opinion by visiting a cosmetic dentist near you in person to find out which treatment option is best for you.

Option #1: Resurfacing your fillings.

It’s possible that another dentist could simply ‘refinish’ your fillings by grinding down the surface a bit and then covering them with a composite material that matches your teeth better.

Option #2: Replacing your fillings.

There would probably be no issues with simply replacing your fillings altogether if your new dentist sees fit to do so. This shouldn’t harm your teeth at all. If the color of your current fillings makes them stand out from your teeth, then a dentist can easily see how far to drill to remove them. Even if the color was such a good match that the fillings couldn’t be easily distinguished from the teeth, a dentist would use a special drill tip that only removes composite material without harming the tooth.

An Important Note About Abfraction Lesions

Abfraction lesions are notches that develop near the gum line on teeth. These notches can become very sensitive as the enamel wears away over time, and dental bonding is a popular way to protect these sensitive notches. In previous years, dentists believed these notches were caused by aggressive tooth brushing, but now we understand that the main factor is excessive tooth clenching. Biting the teeth together causes them to flex slightly right at the point where they meet the gums. This flexing action weakens the teeth and creates that notch.

If you have a subconscious habit of clenching your teeth, then that could be the reason you developed those sensitive notches at the gum line.

Why does this matter?

The best material for restoring those notches in your teeth depends on what caused them in the first place. A stiff and inflexible material will eventually pop out when the tooth flexes. So if the lesions on your teeth were caused by clenching, then a dentist will probably select a softer and more flexible material that can move with your teeth when they flex under pressure.

This post has been published on behalf of Dr. Gilberto Tostado, a cosmetic dentist near Douglas, AZ.

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How to Get a Refund from a Dental Chain for Faulty Dental Work

I’ve been visiting a large dental chain in Tucson for my dental checkups and treatment since 2015. I normally visit the chain’s location that is near my place of work, and I had multiple dental fillings placed there last year.

But I recently booked a checkup at a different location that’s closer to where I live, and at that location, the dentist told me I needed to crown a tooth that was filled only four months ago. When I told the dentist that tooth was recently filled at the other practice location, he got really quiet, and that’s when I started to get a little suspicious.

I decided to get a second opinion from a dentist who isn’t part of that dental chain. After she reviewed my X-rays and looked at my teeth, she confirmed that I did need a crown, but she also said that I would need to have almost all of the other fillings redone as well.

I almost don’t know who to believe, anymore. This new dentist does seem trustworthy, but I want to be compensated for all of that poorly done dental work before I go ahead and agree to her treatment plan.

How can I get a refund from the large dental chain that did such a terrible job on my fillings?

Colin from Tucson, AZ

Dear Colin,

We’re really sorry to hear that you’ve had an experience that shook your trust in dental professionals. It is possible that you have been a victim of dental malpractice, but we should warn you that it can be difficult to wrestle a refund out of these corporate dental chains.

Even so, we hope that the advice we can offer in this situation will help you make a confident and informed decision about your treatment.

Step #1: Get A Third Opinion

Here’s the very first thing you should do: seek a third opinion and make sure it’s a blind one.

This is important because what you need most right now is an unbiased assessment of your dental treatment needs. We can’t provide you with that here over the Internet, but we do suggest that you schedule a dental exam and X-rays with an independent dentist who knows nothing of your dental treatment history. In other words, don’t tell this new dentist about the treatment recommended by the other dentists.

This way, you will have one more professional opinion to weigh against the two you already have and this can give you leverage in your case. Additionally, you can be sure that the new treatment recommendations are based on what this new dentist sees in your mouth and on your X-rays, and that the recommendations are not influenced by their knowledge of your treatment history.

Remember to do the following before choosing a new dentist for your third opinion:

• Request a copy of your dental X-rays and records from the other dentists you’ve seen
• Choose a dentist who has no connections to the others you’ve visited
• Do research to ensure that this new dentist has a solid reputation

After seeing this new dentist, make sure you leave with copies of your X-rays and records from that appointment.

Step #2: Enlist the Help of Your Current Dentist

It sounds like you may wish to let your current dentist provide your treatment. If you want to stay with her practice, tell her so and ask for her help in attempting to get a refund from the large dental chain. Let her know that you will be getting a blind third opinion.

Once you have that third (unbiased!) opinion, share the findings with your current dentist. She can then get in touch with the first dental practice which provided you with that faulty dental work and let them know that you have received professional evaluations from two independent dentists and use this as the basis for negotiating your refund.

Step #3: Confront the Dental Practice You Suspect Is at Fault

What if the original practice that provided you with the failed treatment refuses to refund you? Try to engage the practice in negotiations by doing the following.

1. Threaten to leave a negative review. Let the practice know that you will be sharing a review of your negative experience online.
2. Tell them you will file a formal complaint with your state dental board.
3. Inform your dental insurance provider of the incident. If you had a dental benefits plan you used while visiting that original dentist, let them know what happened and ask if they can help support your case.
4. Attempt to open a malpractice lawsuit against the practice. This is the final and most drastic option left to you, but it may not be worth pursuing unless you can furnish enough proof of significant financial loss and/or suffering. Simply mentioning that you will contact an attorney may be enough to motivate the dental chain to compensate you.

The Challenge of Visiting Dental Chains

Once again, we’re sorry to learn about your negative experience, Colin. It may comfort you to know that independent dentists are a very ethical group, on the whole.

Dentists who work in the corporate setting are also dedicated professionals, but they tend to see such a high volume of patients that it is hard for them to render the personal level of care that each patient deserves. Many of these dentists are under pressure to meet production goals that support the growth of the chain, and some may even be new dentists who have accepted a corporate position to gain some experience.

Such factors can sometimes result in an unfortunate lapse in the high standard of care that most dentists truly want to provide.

By choosing an independent dentist with a stellar reputation and extensive experience, you will work one-on-one with a professional you can trust and develop a long-term relationship with. You will then be able to move ahead with full confidence in the recommended treatment plan.

Having a dentist you can trust becomes all the more important when you are considering major treatment like dental implants or porcelain veneers.

This post is sponsored by Douglas AZ Dentist Dr. Gilberto Tostado.

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