What Is Cosmetic Tooth Bonding?
Tooth bonding is a dental procedure where composite resin is applied to any of your teeth that needs repair. This procedure is very affordable when compared with other procedures like veneers and crowns.
What Is Tooth Bonding For?
Bonding is one of the simplest and most affordable cosmetic dental procedures. Bonding requires the use of composite resin which can be remodelled and designed to match other teeth around it. Bonding is very useful for cosmetic procedures to enhance the appearance of a chipped or discoloured tooth. It is also useful in filling up spaces, increasing teeth length, or correcting the shape.
Bonding is also used as a cosmetic substitute for complementing fillings or safeguarding a part of a tooth’s root that becomes exposed as a result of tooth recession.
Tooth Bonding Candidates
Almost anybody can be a suitable candidate for bonding since many of us have had a minimum of one cosmetic issue. The only requirement is to have a healthy underlying tooth. Bonding is majorly a cosmetic procedure and doesn’t fix issues such as cracked teeth, decay or alignment issues that are impeding biting, and so on.
How Tooth Bonding Works
Step 1: Preparation
Dental bonding requires some preparation in advance. It does not typically require the use of anesthesia except in cases where a decayed tooth is being filled which will require drilling in order to change the shape of where the chip is at proximity to the nerve. A shade guide will be used by the dentist to select the colour of the composite resin which will perfectly match the tooth’s colour.
Step 2: The Bonding Process
The next step is to roughen the tooth’s surface and apply a conditioning liquid. This step is required to ensure that the bonding material conforms with the tooth. The resin having a similar colour as the tooth will then be applied, shaped and smoothed to the required shape. The material is then reinforced with a blue, bright laser or light. The dentist then continues to trim, mould, and polish the material after it is hardened to perfectly fit the other tooth surfaces.
Step 3: Procedure
Dental bonding procedure can be completed between 30minutes to 1 hour per tooth.
Step 4: Be Weary of the Risks and Caution
The bonding material, i.e. composite resin does not have similar strength as the natural tooth. The material can be easily chipped by biting nails or chewing pens or ice. Bonding can last up to several years before a repair can be required. But its durability depends on your oral behavior and the strength of the bonding.
Step 5: Result
After the bonding procedure has been completed, you should begin to feel something unusual about your teeth. You might begin to feel something significant in the mouth until you adjust to the new structures. However, the feeling will fade with time. It is vital to steer clear of probing this area while you feel this sensation. Constant probing can lead to soreness or fatigue of the muscles.
Dental Issues that Cosmetic Tooth Bonding Can Fix
Repairing Damaged Teeth
Dental bonding is useful in repairing the appearance of a cracked or chipped tooth by filling the missing areas of the tooth with a composite material. The material used for bonding usually has less strength in contrast with the natural tooth which makes it important to avoid chewing hard objects like a pen or nails after a bonding procedure.
Complementing Decayed Teeth
The use of silver fillings for cavities in the tooth doesn’t usually look pleasing to the eye but bonding materials completely conceals the fillings.
Repairing Discolouration
There are situations where our tooth enamel gets discolored or stained but this discoloration can be fixed with bonding to create a whiter and uniform smile.
Fill Up Spaces
Gaps or spaces between the teeth can be filled with bonding material which will offer your teeth a more uniformly spaced appearance.
Benefits of Cosmetic Tooth Bonding
Rapid
If you have very little spare time, the best procedure you can perform is dental bonding. You only require one dental visit for the treatment and the overall procedure can take between 30 minutes or 1hour per tooth.
Ease
Anesthesia is not usually required in dental bonding except when a decayed tooth must be filled. Also, bonding only requires a tiny removal of the enamel to roughen the tooth surface so that the material can easily adhere to the teeth, unlike crowns and veneers.
Relatively Affordable
Today, several individuals are fascinated about enhancing their smile but this is usually very costly to most of them. Luckily, some procedures offer similar benefits like costly ones but are very affordable. Similar to professional teeth whitening, dental bonding is also more affordable than crowns or veneers. Furthermore, most of the cost incurred in dental bonding is usually covered by dental insurance policies particularly structural and cavity-filling procedures.
Useful in Adjusting Your Smile
Dental bonding is very effective in repairing issues with gaps and simple misalignment in the teeth without needing costly braces. The bonding material can be applied by your dentist to ensure that its look is uniform, symmetrical, straighter, and conceal any existing.gaps. This procedure is a very fast orthodontic repair without requiring painful braces.
Oral Health Advantages
The bonding material used in dental bonding is effective in treating cavities and several other tooth issues. It can inhibit the spread of tooth decay and reinforce tooth walls. Also, the bonding material develops a solid bond with the inner areas of the teeth which will enable the composite resin to efficiently fortify the decayed teeth.
Porcelain Veneers versus Dental Bonding
Repairable Concerns
Both treatments can be used for addressing most of the cosmetic concerns. But veneers are a better alternative for a more significant or intense issue.
Tooth Preparation
To enable porcelain veneers to easily adjust with your smile, a little part of the enamel must be removed from the teeth by the dentist. But tooth preparation is not required by dental bonding.
Material
Dental bonding is usually carried out with a composite resin material having similar color as the tooth. Porcelain veneers are a special and custom recovery process developed from long-lasting ceramic material created in a lab. Ceramic materials are usually durable and stain-proof.
Durability
Porcelain veneers are usually more durable than dental bonding with the appropriate care. A good routine of oral hygiene is required and ensure that you reach out to us for constant maintenance to increase the longevity of any option you opt for
Cost
Dental bonding is much more affordable than porcelain veneers. But always remember that it is not stain-resistant and further cosmetic procedures might be required to ensure its whitish appearance. You might also need to regularly replace the bonding material as opposed to the veneer. We have customizable and affordable options for both procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between Dental Bonding and Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers and dental bonding are two distinct procedures although they have some similarities. This FAQ is the most significant. Firstly, dental bonding is a temporary procedure without having any effect on the natural tooth. The composite resin only protects and improves the appearance of an existing tooth.
Why Is Dental Bonding So Popular?
Dental bonding is a very easy and straightforward procedure compared to other similar oral treatments. It does not take more than an hour for a single tooth. Additionally, it is very affordable and does not require much enamel removal compared to other treatment options.
How Many Visits Will I Need to Schedule?
Generally, only one visit to the dentist is required for dental bonding. During treatment, the composite resin will be shaped, which does not require any waiting time or additional visits.
Do Bonded Teeth Require Special Care?
Bonded teeth only require good oral hygiene habits without any special maintenance. Teeth should be brushed at least two times every day, floss every day, rinse once or twice with an antiseptic mouthwash daily and visit our dentist regularly for cleaning and checkups.
Will Dental Bonding Match My Teeth?
Composite resin material is an ideal bonding material that can align with the color of the teeth. This will conceal the dental procedure carried out on the teeth. It is a natural treatment that can help you appear and feel at your best in public places.
How Long Does Bonding Material Last?
Your oral habits and the intensity of the bonding are factors that will determine the longevity of the bonding materials. However, bonding materials can last between three to ten years before a replacement or retouching might be required.