diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_button-theme.scss b/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_button-theme.scss
index 4f0df23e0872..dda3ca5a243c 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_button-theme.scss
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_button-theme.scss
@@ -158,8 +158,11 @@
   .mat-mdc-raised-button,
   .mat-mdc-unelevated-button,
   .mat-mdc-outlined-button {
-    @include mdc-button-theme.density($density-scale, $query: mdc-helpers.$mat-base-styles-query);
-    @include button-theme-private.touch-target-density($density-scale);
+    // Use `mat-mdc-button-base` to increase the specificity over the button's structural styles.
+    &.mat-mdc-button-base {
+      @include mdc-button-theme.density($density-scale, $query: mdc-helpers.$mat-base-styles-query);
+      @include button-theme-private.touch-target-density($density-scale);
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_icon-button-theme.scss b/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_icon-button-theme.scss
index 16196ca888db..5accde93ff62 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_icon-button-theme.scss
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-button/_icon-button-theme.scss
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@
 
 @mixin density($config-or-theme) {
   $density-scale: theming.get-density-config($config-or-theme);
-  .mat-mdc-icon-button {
+    // Use `mat-mdc-button-base` to increase the specificity over the button's structural styles.
+  .mat-mdc-icon-button.mat-mdc-button-base {
     @include mdc-icon-button.density($density-scale, $query: mdc-helpers.$mat-base-styles-query);
     @include button-theme-private.touch-target-density($density-scale);
   }