How Dental Bonding Alters the Look and Feel of Your Teeth

Generally, your teeth are naturally strong and designed to last for a lifetime. However, sometimes the unfortunate happens, and your teeth may get damaged.

Tooth chips, cracks, discoloration, and cavities are major dental issues among millions of people. They are often caused by sports accidents, using your teeth to open items, chewing ice cubes, teeth grinding and clenching, and high consumption of sugary and acidic food.

With dental bonding, you can repair and prevent further damage to your teeth. Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure where tooth-colored composite material is applied to a damaged tooth to repair the damage.

Dental bonding treatment is commonly used to resolve dental imperfections such as:

• To close small gaps between teeth
• To repair cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
• To repair small cavities
• To enhance the look of discolored or stained teeth
• To improve the size of uneven or misshapened teeth

If you’re considering dental bonding, you should visit your dentist for professional advice. The dentist will inspect you for tooth damage and determine the best solution to your individual problem.

If your damage is significant dental bonding might not work. Instead, your dentist is likely to recommend getting a dental crown instead.

What Does Dental Bonding Involve?

Getting a dental bonding is quick and straightforward. Even better, it doesn’t require any special preparation. Just wear comfortable clothing, avoid jewelry, and get to the dentist office on time. Since tooth bonding is less invasive, the procedure is virtually painless.

You might not even require anesthesia.

• During the bonding procedure, the dentist uses a shade guide to choose a composite resin that matches your natural color as close as possible.
• Next, the dentist prepares the damaged tooth by applying a gentle phosphoric acid to roughen the tooth’s surface. This makes it easier for the conditioning liquid and the bonding material to bond well with the tooth.
• Then, the dentist applies a putty-like composite resin to the tooth and molds it in the ideal shape. The material is hardened using UV light or laser.
• Finally, the dentist shapes and polishes the tooth to give it a smooth and natural appearance.

On average, the procedure takes 30 minutes to one hour. Unless the bonding procedure is complex and you needed an anesthetic, you can immediately go back to your normal routine.

Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding

Pros of Dental Bonding

There are many benefits of using dental bonding. These include:

• Improved Appearance

Smiling with stained, poorly gapped, chipped, or broken teeth isn’t that appealing. Thanks to the tooth-colored shade of the bonding material, you can alter the look of your affected teeth to a brighter, natural, and healthier smile.

• Improved Oral Function

Dental bonding repairs numerous dental flaws such as discoloration, gaps, chips, and cracks. This improves the shape and function of your teeth, allowing you to eat, chew, and speak comfortably.

Remember that composite bonding is vulnerable to chips, cracks, and breaks, just like your natural teeth. Therefore, avoid chewing on hard food.

• The procedure is non-invasive

Unlike other dental procedures such as veneers and dental crowns, which require your tooth’s enamel to be shaved, dental bonding is less invasive. The dentist only roughens the tooth surface, leaving your internal tooth’s structure intact.

• Cost-effective

Getting dental bonding is way more affordable than alternative treatments such as veneers and crowns. On average, it costs about $300 – $600 per tooth (consult your dentist for the specific cost). Similarly, bonding repairs tooth damage, preventing further damage, which can cause the need for expensive treatments.

• Easy to maintain

Dental bonding repairs tooth damage, making it easy to brush and floss normally. Once the tooth is bonded, it won’t need any special care afterwards. Just brush and floss it like the rest of your teeth, and you’d be good to go.

Cons of Dental Bonding

Some of the downsides of dental bonding include:

• Staining – Compared to crowns and veneers, bonding is more susceptible to staining.
• Durability – Dental bonding lasts for about 3 to 10 years, depending on the location of the bonded tooth. Veneers and crowns last much longer.
• Not ideal for complex dental flaws – Bonding might not be ideal for complex damage such as a severely decayed or weakened tooth.

Final Verdict

The pros of dental bonding outweigh the cons. However, it’s important to consult with your dentist about the right treatment option for you. For professional dental bonding services, contact Barry J. Cunha for more information.