Can a dentist remove bonding on front teeth without damaging them?

I’m not satisfied with the bonding on my center front teeth. My dentist applied the bonding first in 2012 and again in 2018, but I’m convinced that it’s something she doesn’t do well. I don’t like the idea of disturbing my teeth a third time, but is there a way to remove the composite without damaging my teeth? Thanks. Tyra from Austin

Tyra,

Thanks for your inquiry.

Can a Dentist Remove Bonding Without Damaging Your Teeth?

A dentist can remove bonding without damaging your teeth if the bonding is on your tooth enamel—not the dentin beneath it. It’s relatively easy to remove the bonding.

How Does a Dentist Remove Dental Bonding?

A dentist can remove dental bonding in several ways, including sandpaper discs, high-speed carbide drills, air abrasion, and for finishing, a sand-blasting nozzle.

• Sandpaper discs – Some dentists use sandpaper discs, which leave a smooth, highly polished surface. The discs are flexible and bend to accommodate tooth shape.
• High-speed carbide drills – When used with light pressure, the drills are faster than sandpaper discs and remove composite without damaging tooth enamel. But they often leave streaks of material on the tooth, so some dentists finish with a sandpaper disc to remove the residue.
• Air abrasion – Although most dental offices don’t have air-abrasion equipment, it removes composite with a high-powered stream of air.
• Sand-blasting nozzle – Also called a micro-etcher, a sand-blasting nozzle works best as a finishing step—not in the initial phase of removing composite.

High-Tech Flowable Composite

Before you ask a dentist to remove your composite, you may be interested in replacing it with high-tech flowable composite. Bioclear is a system that wraps dental composite around your teeth for precise results and precise form. Heated, flowable composite cures faster, harder, and deeper than hand application. You’ll receive strong, natural-looking results.

After you read about Bioclear, if you’re interested, you can find a cosmetic dentist who offers it and schedule a consultation to learn about the results you can expect.

Dr. Rekha Reddy, a Dallas, TX, female dentist, sponsors this post.