Composite Bonding?

SusieBlue

Hi all, I'm interested in getting composite bonding but would like to hear from a few people with experience of it.

I have a tiny, tiny, gap in my front teeth, towards the top near my gum. I would like this filled.
I also have small proportioned front teeth, they are only slightly longer than my incisors, which I don't like the look of. I would be interested in getting them lengthened. Is lengthening a specialty, or do all dentists offer it?
I also like the fact that it'll whiten my teeth, as my teeth are too sensitive to get the whitened in other ways. I'm thinking in total I'll need work to 4 teeth (two front teeth and incisors)

I have found a dentist with good reviews. So now I'm wondering, as this is purely for cosmetic purposes (no chips or broken teeth), how much pain I'm looking at? I would have a high pain threshold but am terrified of the dentist so I would rather get the anesthetic injection if possible.
I have seen prices online of roughly €100 per tooth, but would this typically include the lengthening as well?

Sorry, I know a lot of my questions are very specific and the most obvious solution is to just ring the dentist (which I will do) but I'm looking for as many personal experiences and opinions before booking as possible.

Any insights and advice more than welcome, TIA

Tenigate

I've been looking into this ever since my dentist recommended it.

He recommended it for my bottom front teeth which are worn, and also a tiny chip on my front tooth. I'm a bit sceptical about getting it on the biting part of my tooth because I believe it will wear down very quickly. So maybe my research into the matter could help you..

Bonding sounds like the ideal option to fix up the gap in your teeth.

It could also be used to lengthen your teeth a small amount, but it depends on your bite (it will wear off quickly if it touches other teeth). You would need to be careful about what you bite and might have to avoid chocolate bars, apples, carrot sticks, etc. The other consideration is that it can stain if you drink wine, coffee, etc.

Anaesthetic shouldn't be required and in my experience it's the anaesthetic needle that hurts the most. I never had nitrous oxide as a sedative but it's meant to be a good laugh. Xanax might be an option that your doctor or dentist could prescribe.

Oral Surgeon

That's a lot of advice from someone who seems to know very little about this topic...!!

Tenigate wrote: »

I've been looking into this ever since my dentist recommended it.

He recommended it for my bottom front teeth which are worn, and also a tiny chip on my front tooth. I'm a bit sceptical about getting it on the biting part of my tooth because I believe it will wear down very quickly. So maybe my research into the matter could help you..

Bonding sounds like the ideal option to fix up the gap in your teeth.

It could also be used to lengthen your teeth a small amount, but it depends on your bite (it will wear off quickly if it touches other teeth). You would need to be careful about what you bite and might have to avoid chocolate bars, apples, carrot sticks, etc. The other consideration is that it can stain if you drink wine, coffee, etc.

Anaesthetic shouldn't be required and in my experience it's the anaesthetic needle that hurts the most. I never had nitrous oxide as a sedative but it's meant to be a good laugh. Xanax might be an option that your doctor or dentist could prescribe.

Tenigate

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

That's a lot of advice from someone who seems to know very little about this topic...!!

And zero advice from the guy whose name is oral surgeon!

If I said anything wrong, feel free to correct me as it would benefit both the op and myself.

Otherwise keep your sad jibes to yourself.

helimachoptor

No advice is better than bad advice.

Oral Surgeon

Tenigate wrote: »

And zero advice from the guy whose name is oral surgeon!

If I said anything wrong, feel free to correct me as it would benefit both the op and myself.

Otherwise keep your sad jibes to yourself.

As an oral surgeon, the last filling I placed was over 10 years ago so I know when not to post on a topic....

But since you ask,
You said that "Bonding sounds like the ideal option to fix up the gap in your teeth. "
You have no idea from the OP's description that this is the case, there are more variables here than you don't fully appreciate.
Other solutions may be required, crown lengthening, veneers, crowns etc etc

Also, telling the patient that LA shouldn't be required may be wrong. Bonding/fillings may require a drill with water spray and definitely require multiple coating and rinsing with etch bond etc. Sensitive teeth may not tolerate this without LA.

Nitrous or xanax are great to reduce anxiety but not intraoperative pain. Using Nitrous or xanax is not a substitute for local anaesthetic where it is needed...

Tenigate

Thanks for the reply.

Apart from nitpicking, you're not exactly slating the information (I won't say advice) I provided to the op, in the spirit of boards being a discussion forum and the op not getting a response in 3 weeks. I won't be using this forum any more in any case.

If my dentist recommended crown lengthening and crowns to correct a "tiny, tiny, gap" I'd probably tell the dentist to tap another patient to fund their pension pot.

I suggested xanax because op said they are "terrified" of the dentist. I didn't realise anaesthetics are prescribed for fear and anxiety. (How's that for nitpicking).

Oral Surgeon

Tenigate wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Apart from nitpicking, you're not exactly slating the information (I won't say advice) I provided to the op, in the spirit of boards being a discussion forum and the op not getting a response in 3 weeks. I won't be using this forum any more in any case.

If my dentist recommended crown lengthening and crowns to correct a "tiny, tiny, gap" I'd probably tell the dentist to tap another patient to fund their pension pot.

I suggested xanax because op said they are "terrified" of the dentist. I didn't realise anaesthetics are prescribed for fear and anxiety. (How's that for nitpicking).

Use boards all you like, I don't own the forum and don't moderate it. No one is obliged to reply to a post and a post with advice based on scant clinical information is not better than no post atall....

I propose and perform big treatment plans every day. Sometimes patients don't realise that the little problem they point to is part of a wider problem. Proposing larger treatment is not to line a dentist's pockets. Larger treatment plans take proportionately more time. Ten little jobs and or one big job would probably take me the same amount of time and net me the same amount of money....

I don't quiet get your last point. Yes sedatives are for anxiety but don't get around the need for local anaesthesia/analgesia (for the patients sensitive teeth)!

davo10

Tenigate wrote: »

If my dentist recommended crown lengthening and crowns to correct a "tiny, tiny, gap" I'd probably tell the dentist to tap another patient to fund their pension pot.
).

If your teeth are worn and you have a space near the gum line, filing it with composite would make your teeth square shaped and close the interproximal area leading to difficulty cleaning between your teeth and increasing the likelihood of decay/periodontal disease.

If the space is due to gum recession, filling it with composite will leave a ledge at gum level and the filling is likely to discolour/debond as forming a strong seal with the root surface is difficult.


Your dentist gave you the options related to you, not anyone else. If you say that pension stuff in any clinic, you will be asked to leave. It's ironic that you complained about not being given what would be the most expensive option by your previous dentist, but now you would be suspicious of being given an expensive option now. Go figure.

Crowns/crown lengthening allow you to restore the dimensions, shape and appearance of teeth better then composite, and they are far less likely to wear not fracture. They may not be indicated in yours nor the ops case, but in your case, very little knowledge has led you to suspect any advice given which doesn't suit your preconceived ideas and budget.

Dianthus

It's impossible to say what the correct course of action is, or the best treatment.
Any& every treatment is rendered absolutely useless unless the underlying cause has been properly diagnosed. None of us keyboard warriors here can do that online.

This "tiny tiny gap"- what's caused it? Will it get bigger over time? Will it happen to other teeth?

The hypersensitive teeth- what's caused that? Recession/worn enamel/decay/other?

The phobia - TLC, CBT, oral sedation, IV sedation, general anaesthetic .....all options.

See a dentist for consultation.

Tenigate

davo, look my petty response was a reply to "Oral Surgeon"'s even pettier reply to my post. Now, in the past Oral Surgeon posted in Motors despite not being a mechanic, property without being an estate agent, banking despite not QFA exams.. I assume he knows enough about these topics to participate in a discussion without claiming to be an expert.

When I asked him to point out what I said that was so wrong with my post to warrant his dismissive and unhelpful post, it seems to me Oral Surgeon nitpicked to show his expertise.. and I nitpicked right back regarding the price (given op seems to be price-conscious) and his aversion to anti-anxiety medication (even though op mentioned a phobia).. it's not nice, and it doesn't make for nice reading or discussion.

"in your case, very little knowledge has led you to suspect any advice given which doesn't suit your preconceived ideas and budget"
Very little knowledge, once again it's enough knowledge to participate in a discussion. My preconceived idea of the budget is €400, given the op mentioned a figure of €400 (4 teeth at €100). In my case, my quote was €100 for the bit of work my dentist offered to do.

Besides, I don't think it's at all bad to do due diligence by questioning a treatment plan online. As it happens, you're arguing about me with a non-existent treatment plan.. op queried bonding for cosmetic reasons, I said it sounds like a good idea, "Oral Surgeon" rhymed off a list of alternative treatments which may be more suitable in order to demonstrate my ignorance, I said they're expensive.. and now you get personal by dragging up a previous post of mine relating to my treatment.

Seriously folks.

davo10

Tenigate wrote: »

davo, look my petty response was a reply to "Oral Surgeon"'s even pettier reply to my post. Now, in the past Oral Surgeon posted in Motors despite not being a mechanic, property without being an estate agent, banking despite not QFA exams.. I assume he knows enough about these topics to participate in a discussion without claiming to be an expert.

When I asked him to point out what I said that was so wrong with my post to warrant his dismissive and unhelpful post, it seems to me Oral Surgeon nitpicked to show his expertise.. and I nitpicked right back regarding the price (given op seems to be price-conscious) and his aversion to anti-anxiety medication (even though op mentioned a phobia).. it's not nice, and it doesn't make for nice reading or discussion.

"in your case, very little knowledge has led you to suspect any advice given which doesn't suit your preconceived ideas and budget"
Very little knowledge, once again it's enough knowledge to participate in a discussion. My preconceived idea of the budget is €400, given the op mentioned a figure of €400 (4 teeth at €100). In my case, my quote was €100 for the bit of work my dentist offered to do.

Besides, I don't think it's at all bad to do due diligence by questioning a treatment plan online. As it happens, you're arguing about me with a non-existent treatment plan.. op queried bonding for cosmetic reasons, I said it sounds like a good idea, "Oral Surgeon" rhymed off a list of alternative treatments which may be more suitable in order to demonstrate my ignorance, I said they're expensive.. and now you get personal by dragging up a previous post of mine relating to my treatment.

Seriously folks.

A lot of people are into cars, some are very knowledgeable about property and banking, mostly because Fords tend to be Fords, Banks tend to be banks and properties tend to be properties. But medical and dental isssues are specific to each individual person, and the problem with giving advice on treatment, is that you could be completely wrong. What might be a good idea for you, is not for someone else, the right treatment for you may cost €100 but the right treatment for someone else might be €400. You are hung up on price, you would assume that because one dentist told you what you wanted to hear, this must be right.

Tenigate

davo10 wrote: »

You are hung up on price, you would assume that because one dentist told you what you wanted to hear, this must be right.

But I'm not hung up on price. The price was listed in the original post!

I could pick holes in any argument. Teeth tend to be teeth, but properties can vary so much depending on their construction material, year built, location, need I continue?

If someone said their car wasn't going in a straight line and you recommended getting their wheel alignment for €60, would you appreciate if a poster called "MOTOR EXPERT" decided to jump down your throat, saying "that's a lot of advice for someone with little experience with motors" and start listing all the reasons why the car isn't going in a straight line?

Or would you say "actually, that's exactly why garages offer wheel alignment. Here's my experience with wheel alignment. Here's what someone recommended to me. Go ahead to your garage and see what they say".

Oral Surgeon

Tenigate wrote: »

davo, look my petty response was a reply to "Oral Surgeon"'s even pettier reply to my post. Now, in the past Oral Surgeon posted in Motors despite not being a mechanic, property without being an estate agent, banking despite not QFA exams.. I assume he knows enough about these topics to participate in a discussion without claiming to be an expert.

I never said that you couldn't post here... it's not up to me...

My "petty" response is inline with the forum rules not to give specific medical and dental advice. Years of posting on dental issues has taught me to give broad advice and not specific advice (and I know what I am talking about). Other posters should be even more cautious about giving advice to each other for obvious reasons...
I post in motors because I have a nice car, property because I own a few properties and banking because I'm loaded.... I don't give anyone any potentially harmful advice or information there.

Tenigate wrote: »

When I asked him to point out what I said that was so wrong with my post to warrant his dismissive and unhelpful post, it seems to me Oral Surgeon nitpicked to show his expertise.. and I nitpicked right back regarding the price (given op seems to be price-conscious) and his aversion to anti-anxiety medication (even though op mentioned a phobia).. it's not nice, and it doesn't make for nice reading or discussion.

So justifying my criticism of your post is nitpicking despite you asking me to do so???!!

]

Tenigate

Well Oral, so you have a car and post in motors.. I have a set of teeth & a dentist so I'm posting here. See how that works?

I didn't ask you to nitpick my post. I asked you to contribute to the topic of Composite Bonding. I very broadly outlined some advantages and disadvantages and specific uses, given my understanding. You all are right to say I shouldn't have said it sounded like a good option to fill a gap in teeth because I'm not an expert but really.. it's not harmful advice, as clearly the op's dentist will not do something dangerous. If it is a suitable treatment, it will be cost effective and look good. If not, it won't be done.

Was there really something so awful about recommending not biting on hard foods if you lengthened teeth with composite, or to seek treatment for anxiety when visiting dentists?

There's a constructive way to contribute to a discussion and there's the way you chose to do it.