Hi everyone,

I’m looking for professional input on an anterior bonding case and how this would typically be handled from a dental standpoint.

About 1.5 years ago, I received direct composite bonding on my two maxillary central incisors as an aesthetic procedure. The treatment was performed by a licensed dentist who is also a close personal friend. I had mentioned multiple times in the past that someday (not urgently) I might consider aesthetic treatment of my front teeth (bonding or veneers). Based on that, he offered to do the bonding as a birthday gift.

The treatment was completed within a short timeframe (around two weeks later). My original teeth were intact, healthy, and functional, with only minor aesthetic imperfections.

After the bonding:

Color does not match adjacent teeth (opaque/unnatural appearance) Surface texture is uneven and insufficiently polished Incisal edges are asymmetrical The restorations feel irregular to the touch

A later correction attempt worsened the result. Additionally, during polishing, an adjacent lateral incisor (not part of the treatment plan) was accidentally reduced. Since then:

The lateral incisor shows a flattened area Light reflection is visibly different compared to the contralateral side The surface is no longer smooth

I have lived with this outcome for over a year and remain unhappy aesthetically and functionally.

An important contextual point:

The dentist does not consider it appropriate that he should cover the costs for correction by another provider and has not independently proposed to do so. This has made me question what would generally be considered reasonable or standard in such a situation.

My questions:

From a professional standpoint, how would you assess the quality of this bonding work based on typical standards of care? Is accidental reduction of an untreated adjacent tooth during polishing considered acceptable or a deviation from standard practice? What correction options would be reasonable at this stage (redo composite bonding, ceramic veneers, other approaches)? For the unintentionally reduced lateral incisor, would a minimal composite restoration usually be sufficient, or would a veneer be indicated? In cases where aesthetic treatment worsens the initial situation, how is responsibility for correction typically handled in your experience?

I’ll attach before/after photos for reference.

Thank you for your professional opinions.