Bonding is a procedure available to comprehensive family dentistry through which a tooth-colored composite resin (a durable plastic) is applied to restore or improve your smile when you have chipped, fractured, decayed or discolored teeth. With exposure to a concentrated halogen light, this material actually “bonds” to the tooth for a healthy, natural-looking smile.
Bonding is among the easiest and most affordable of all dental procedures. Unlike crowns or veneers, bonding usually only requires one visit. The bonding procedure removes less tooth enamel than other dental restorations and generally only takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete.
Your dentist will instruct you on how to protect your bonding restoration, as there a clearly strength limitations in certain circumstances. With proper care, dental bonding usually lasts for several years, but as with most dental restorations they will someday require replacement.
Although the material used in dental bonding is somewhat stain resistant, it does not resist stains as well as crowns. Another disadvantage is that the bonding materials do not last as long as – nor are they as strong as – other restorative cosmetic treatments. Additionally, bonding materials can chip and break off of the tooth.
Due to the limitations of dental bonding, we find it most appropriate for any of these three: small cosmetic changes, temporary correction of cosmetic defects, or correction of teeth in areas of very low bite pressure. There may be times where the bonding procedure’s limitations are so significant that we will advise other more successful approaches to treatment.
Usually only one appointment is required for a dental bonding procedure. After minor preparation of your tooth, your dentist will apply an etching solution to roughen the tooth’s surface so the bonding material can better adhere. Next, a resin that most closely matches the shade of your tooth will be carefully applied and shaped in layers. After each layer is applied it is hardened with a concentrated halogen light or laser. Finally, your dentist will carefully trim, shape and polish the bonding material. Unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth, anesthesia is usually not necessary.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about dental bonding or to schedule a smile consultation with one of our doctors.
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