Dental Bonding
 Dental Bonding on the front teeth is an excellent method for repairing minor imperfections such as chips and discolorations. It can also be used to fill gaps between the teeth. Cosmetic Bonding has some wonderful advantages over other esthetic treatments. Generally it requires little or no tooth removal, so anesthetic is unnecessary. The results are immediate, so you can walk out with a finished product. It is considerably more economical than veneers or porcelain crowns. It frequently can be performed "invisibly". Also, it affords me the chance to express my artistic creativity. With so many different products available, I get to mix and match shades, layer materials, and sculpt and polish the shape to create a result that we hope no one ever notices.
Dental Bonding is a procedure in which a tooth colored composite resin material (similar to a plastic) is applied and then sculpted and shaped and hardened with a special light, which ultimately "bonds" the material to the tooth. This material comes in several shades and various other optical properties so it can be matched to the natural shade of your tooth. While bleaching is always cosmetic and veneers are usually cosmetic, the bonding procedure is often used to restore or repair damaged teeth, while having a cosmetic benefit.
Dental Bonding can be used to:
- Repair chipped or fractured teeth
- Close spaces between teeth
- Change the shape of teeth
- Fix white spots
- Mask discolored teeth
- Replace old discolored fillings, front or back
- Repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
What is the Procedure for Having a Tooth Bonded?
- Preparation. Little advance preparation is needed for dental bonding, although sometimes we need to reshape or contour the surface. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. We will use a shade guide to select a composite resin color that will closely match the color of your tooth.
 The bonding process. Next the surface of the tooth will be roughened and a conditioning liquid applied. These procedures help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored, puttylike resin is then applied, molded and smoothed to the desired shape. A powerful specially designed light is then used to harden the material. After the material is hardened, we will trim and shape it, and polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.
- Time-to-completion. The procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete. The length of the visit will depend on the condition of your teeth and on how much repair work you are having done.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?
- Advantages: Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are customized tooth coverings that must be manufactured in a laboratory, bonding usually can be done in one office visit unless several teeth are involved. Another advantage, compared with veneers and crowns, is that the least amount of tooth enamel is removed. Also, unless dental bonding is being performed to fill a cavity, anesthesia is usually not required.
- Disadvantages: Although the material used in dental bonding is somewhat stain resistant, it does not resist stain as well as crowns. Another disadvantage is that the bonding materials do not last as long nor are as strong as other restorative procedures, such as crowns, veneers, or fillings. Additionally, bonding materials can chip and break off the tooth.
- Because of some of the limitations of bonding, it is often viewed as best suited for small cosmetic changes, for temporary correction of cosmetic defects, and for correction of teeth in areas of a very low bite pressure (for example front teeth),
Do Bonded Teeth Require any Special Care?
No. Simply follow good oral hygiene practices. Because bonding material can chip, it is important to avoid such habits as biting fingernails; chewing on pens, ice or other hard food objects; or using your bonded teeth as an opener.
How Long Does Bonding Material Last?
The lifespan of bonding materials depends on how much bonding was done and your oral habits, Typically, however, bonding material lasts from 2 years up to about 10 years before needing to be replaced.
Other Cosmetic Dental Services
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