Have you noticed that you have a chipped, discolored, or slightly decayed tooth? If so, you may be perfectly suited for a dental bonding. Dental bonding is an efficient, affordable process of bonding tooth-colored resin to the teeth to mask imperfections like small gaps, minor chips, and discoloration. In addition to providing a cosmetic benefit, bonding can also be used to fill cavities. Over time, the bonding may need to be touched up or replaced, but it is highly unlikely that it will fall off or break away as the resin that is bonded to the tooth is permanent. Dental bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete, and can be completed at a dental office.
When is Dental Bonding Used?
Dental bonding can be used to cover up imperfections on the teeth, but it also has other benefits as well, including:
- To fill in a small gap between two teeth
- To repair decayed teeth by filling a cavity with tooth-colored resin
- To change the shape of a tooth
- To repair chips or cracks in teeth
- To cover up discoloration
- To protect the root of a tooth after it’s been exposed by receding gums
- To make a tooth look larger than it is, which is usually done to make it match the other teeth
How is Dental Bonding Done?
Dental bonding is a relatively simple process that does not require anesthesia (unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth). First, your dentist will use a shade guide to sleet a composite resin color that matches the color of your tooth. The surface of the tooth is then roughened, and a conditioning liquid is applied to help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored resin is then applied, molded and smoothed to the desired shape. An ultraviolet light or laser is used to harden the resin, after which your dentist will trim and shape the bonding, before finally polishing it to match the rest of the tooth surface. Again, the entire process should not take more than an hour per tooth. And because no anesthesia is used, you will be able to return to your daily activities immediately following a dental bonding procedure.
How Is Dental Bonding Different From Veneers?
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are two different ways to achieve a similar result. Essentially, dental bonding is a simplified version of a veneer. A veneer is a restorative material placed over the surface of a tooth. Veneers are done to protect a damaged tooth surface or to improve the aesthetics of a tooth. Most veneers are custom made in a dental laboratory and can last 10-25 years.
Cosmetic dental bonding is a simpler, faster, and less expensive process than veneers. While dental bonds may need to be touched up or replaced every 5-10 years, the process of dental bonding is far less invasive than veneers. Consult with your dentist about which process is best for your teeth.
What are the Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding?
The main benefit of dental bonding is the ease of the procedure, both for time and money. Dental bonding is one of the most common and least expensive cosmetic dental procedures. Bonding one tooth can be done in one brief dental visit. Multiple teeth take longer, but in general, dental bonding is a fast process. Another benefit is that, compared to veneers and crowns, dental bonding requires little to no removal of tooth enamel, and, as mentioned, anesthesia is not necessary for dental bonding.
While there are no inherent cons to dental bonding, there are some limitations to the procedure that patients should be aware of. The material used in dental bonding is not as strong as your real teeth, so biting hard objects and foods should be afforded after a dental bonding procedure. Bonding may need to be touched up or replaced after a few years, but the upfront cost is less expensive than other restorative procedures. All told, dental bonding may be suited for small cosmetic changes and temporary correction to cosmetic defects. Consult with your dentist as to whether your teeth are suitable for a dental bonding, or if it requires a more invasive procedure like veneers.
How Do I Maintain My Dental Bonding?
Dental bondings require the same care as your natural teeth, which is to say, maintaining good overall oral hygiene will benefit your dental bonding as much as your regular teeth. Brushing at least twice and day and flossing daily are good places to start for maintaining food oral health. Routine check-ups are also recommended, so your dentist can check the status of the dental bonds while also keeping your all of your teeth healthy and clean.
Because the dental bonding material can chip, it is again important to avoid hard food and objects after a dental bonding procedure. Bitting your fingernails, chewing on pens, ice, hard candies and other hard foods should be avoided. If you accidentally chip a bonded tooth, consult with your dentist immediately to correct the issue.
Is Dental Bonding Right For You?
At Ideal Dental Solutions, we will analyze the tooth in question to determine if dental bonding is a fitting solution for you. Bonding isn’t appropriate in all cases, especially if the tooth does a lot of heavy biting or chewing. Bonding is also not appropriate for covering large areas of decay or significant damage. In those cases, we will work with you to find a better solution, such as a veneer or crown.
If you have a tooth that may require dental bonding, contact Ideal Dental Solutions today for a consultation. Our dental expertise and enthusiasm for our patients – backed by our comfortable, state–of–the–art facility – offers you incomparable dental care with noticeable long-term results. Beautiful smiles are what we aim for, and achieve.
