After two years of not seeing a dentist, I finally got the courage to go because a front tooth that was bonded almost broke completely. I have been wanting to get my teeth whitened to feel better about myself. Although I was expecting to get the tooth bonded back on, the dentist wanted to pull 4 front teeth and give me a partial. I went to a second dentist who recommended the same thing. Why would both dentists recommend extracting multiple front teeth when I came in to get one tooth repaired and schedule teeth whitening? – Thank you. LaDonna from GA
LaDonna,
We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please do not return to either dentist or ask them to save your teeth. Both dentists lack commitment to preserving your natural teeth. Even if a tooth requires extraction, a dental implant is the healthiest option for you. Maybe the dentists are not skilled with tooth preservation. But do not push the issue with either of them.
You mentioned that you finally got the courage to go to the dentist again, which implies you might have past negative experiences. But do not give up. You can find a dentist whose treatment philosophy is to preserve teeth when possible without compromising your oral health.
When a Bonded Front Tooth Breaks
If your front tooth is bonded, it probably broke before. And if it is now almost broken off completely, it may mean that your bite is strong—or the force of when you bite with your front teeth is heavy. A heavy bite requires expertise from a cosmetic dentist. A family or general dentist without cosmetic dentistry training will not know how to resolve the issue.
We recommend that you find two or three dentists with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training. Schedule consultations with the dentists. They will briefly look at your tooth and explain your treatment options. Ask to see before-and-after photos of cases like yours. And compare the options each dentist offers. You can also talk with each dentist about the timing for teeth whitening to ensure your restored tooth matches your bright smile.
Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.