WHAT IS DENTAL BONDING?

Dental bonding is a treatment used by dentists where a tooth-colored composite is applied to teeth to fix a chipped or cracked tooth, or a tooth with discoloration. Dental bonding mobile al is usually done in a single dentist visit, often in conjunction with other dental procedures. The reason why it is called bonding, is because the composite material, or additional adhesive is applied and bonded to the teeth.

When is Dental Bonding Used?

Dental bonding is a common procedure used by dentist in many visits. Dental bonding treatment is one of the easiest and lowest cost cosmetic dental treatments. With dentist who have experience, the dental bonding composite can be used to shape and polish teeth to give you an improved polished smile. The composite is also used often to minimize the space between teeth and to change the shape of teeth to look longer or wider. Sometimes bonding is even used as a bit of a filler, to protect the root of the tooth when it becomes exposed due to receding gums.

The best thing about dental bonding is no preparation is needed. Often, dentists will decide to use bonding treatment while they are doing general exams and visits, and no anesthesia is needed.

The Steps

Prior to starting the treatment your dentist will use a shade guide to match a composite resin color to your teeth color. Once the color of the composite is selected, your dentist will etch or scratch the surface of your tooth to create a more suitable surface for the composite to stick to. Often a liquid coating agent will be used to also ensure the bonding material adheres to your teeth.

Once the resin is selected and your tooth is prepped, your dentist will apply the tooth-colored composite putty. The putty is then molded and shaped to your tooth until the proper shape is sculpted. Your dentist may take their time to get the shape they feel confident with, at which point they will use a laser or an ultraviolet light which will harden the composite.

After the composite material is hardened, your dentist may feel the need to further shape the surface. Once they are satisfied with their work they will polish the new surface so that it matches the rest of your teeth perfectly.

Overall, this entire process only takes about 30 minutes up to an hour to complete. If you need to have several teeth bonded, your dentist may suggest scheduling several visits, but many times they may try to finish everything up in one.

Risks

There are very few risks associated with the dental bonding procedure. It is important to know that the composite used in bonding is not as strong as a natural tooth. Chewing on tough surfaces, such as ice or plastic may cause the bonding to chip away, which will require repair. If you take good care of your teeth the bonding can last several years before any repair is necessary.

Some products such as tea, coffee, wine, or nicotine can stain the composite resin. To avoid stains it is important to avoid eating or drinking these foods for at least the first few days after the procedure. It is also important to maintain good oral hygiene and brush your teeth regularly to maintain the condition of the bonding.

Interesting in learning more about dental bonding? What's the difference between bonding and veneers?