When the dental hygienist was cleaning my teeth today, she began
scraping one of my front teeth with extreme vigor, claiming that there
was still cement on it from my braces, which were removed 20+ years
ago.  No-one had ever mentioned this cement to me before, and I've
certainly never noticed anything odd.

I came very close to stopping her, and now really wish that I had.
With my tongue and lips I can now feel a very discernible (but small)
rough patch on my tooth.  In a mirror I can just barely make out what
appear to be a few small vertical scratches, and one small pit.  It
doesn't hurt, but the rough texture is driving me crazy.  Also, after
eating dinner tonight I noticed that tiny amounts of food seemed to
adhere to the area, and although easily cleared off, I don't like the
idea of showcasing my last meal on my tooth.

What happened?  Did my enamel get scratched in the search for phantom
cement?  Can it be fixed?  Is the area now more prone to staining (I
drink a fair amount of tea and coffee)?  Can I use any over-the-
counter whitening treatments (strips, trays, etc.)?  Should I call the
dentist?  Help!

Thanks so much.

--Sara