A lad popped into Envy Smile Dental last Tuesday feeling quite down about a dark grey front tooth. He took an elbow to the mouth playing five-a-side football years ago, and the tooth nerve slowly died off, leaving his central tooth looking grey like slate.
He sat in my chair and went: can you actually fix a discoloured tooth with bonding, or do I have to get it shaved down for a crown?
I told him right away: bonding is honestly your best bet here.
When a tooth dies from an old bump, blood iron seeps into the microscopic tubes inside the dentine, turning the tooth dark from within. Bleaching trays can’t always shift that grey hue. But carving away healthy tooth structure for a massive porcelain cap is overly aggressive.
With composite resin, we do not cut anything away. I took a tiny dab of blue etch gel, cleaned the enamel, brushed on some liquid glue, and literally sculpted white composite paste straight over the front face while he watched in a hand mirror. I put down a drop of masking paint first to block the grey darkness, and layered tooth-coloured resin over the top to match the tooth beside it. Our blue light gun set it rock hard in twenty seconds.
Whole thing took about 40 minutes. Zero numbing needles. No drill buzz. He had a brew, checked his new smile in the car mirror, and was buzzing.
People always ask how long it holds up. Honestly, composite resin is tough stuff. Most patients get five or six years before they need a quick polish to get rid of tea marks. If you happen to crack a corner on a stubborn pistachio nut, don’t sweat it. You just pop back into our chair, and we stick a fresh patch on in ten minutes flat.
Visit our page on composite bonding London to explore treatment options, costs, and expert advice.
The insights shared in our articles are meant to educate and inform, not to replace a face-to-face consultation. Every smile is unique, and a proper diagnosis can only be made by a qualified clinical professional. Please book an appointment with our team or consult your local dentist for advice tailored to your specific oral health needs.
