I had no idea that my dentist wasn’t a certified cosmetic dentist when I agreed to this procedure. I developed some black triangles at my gumline and had read the solution to this was dental bonding. I asked my dentist to do that, but the results have been awful. First, the appearance looks like a piece of white chicklet gum was pressed in the area to fill things in. Second, I can’t even floss between those teeth anymore. What do I do?

Paula

Dear Paula,

You’re facing a common problem when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. The reason your dentist wasn’t certified, is there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to find a dentist with expertise in cosmetic dentistry. You will definitely want a dentist who knows what they’re doing on this. Dental bonding, especially at the gumline, is challenging for a few reasons.

First, the effect this has on your gums is important. The shape of the tooth can cause severe problems if it impacts your ability to brush or floss properly. The way you described your situation, there is no way for you to adequately, clean and floss your teeth. This makes that area a bacteria trap, leading to decay and gum disease. The tooth has to be carefully shaped so that there are no “traps”. Your floss should be able to get into the sulcus under the gum and pull out smoothly.

A second issue is this is a challenging area to get any bonding done. The dentist will need to work some beneath the gumline. Because of the type of area it is, there will be some oozing. Composite materials need to be kept dry during the bonding procedure so his or her technique will be very important.

Thirdly, there are aesthetics to consider. Unless you are going to an expert cosmetic dentist, they will not have the colors in stock, nor the knowledge of color theory to provide a good match. Most dentists put too white a composite in that area, not realizing by the gumline the tooth is much darker than at the incisal edge.

Getting Your Black Triangles Fixed Properly

The first thing I would do in your place is to ask for a refund. You have a good case for that because you are unable to floss the area. My guess is your dentist will recognize that and not give you any problems. If he doesn’t, let me know and I can tell you how to get a refund from there.

Your next step will be to find a qualified cosmetic dentist. The best cosmetic dentists have reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. While anyone can be an AACD member, to become AACD accredited requires a dentist to pass stringent exams showing their technical knowledge. Then they have to provide visual evidence on a large number of specific cases they’ve done in order to prove their artistry as well. Any one of them will produce a beautiful result, which will blend in perfectly with the rest of your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by La Jolla Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Stephen Doan.