Everything You Need To Know About Dental Bonding 

There are many cosmetic dental procedures, and dental bonding is a common way to improve the appearance of your smile. This non-invasive procedure can be used to repair discolored or gapped teeth. 

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is an effective, safe dental treatment that is non-invasive and produces quality results. During the procedure, your dentist will apply a tooth-colored composite resin to the surface of your teeth. This resin is then shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth, making it blend in to create a natural, beautiful smile. 

The process ‘dental bonding’ has its name because the composite resin bonds to the teeth. 

Why Do I Need Dental Bonding?

This treatment option is a great, cost-effective way to restore your smile. Dental bonding is commonly used for cosmetic purposes but can also be used as an alternative to silver (amalgam) fillings or to cover exposed roots caused by a receding gum line. There are many uses for cosmetic dental bonding, including: 

• Covering cracks or chips on the tooth’s surface
• Small cavities
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Fill in gaps or spaces between the teeth
• Misshapen teeth 
• Teeth differing in length
• Exposed roots 

What Can I Expect During Dental Bonding?

During this simple procedure, the dentist applies the composite resin to your teeth in layers. Between each layer, a specific light is used to harden the resin. This procedure is performed without numbing agents unless a cavity is being filled or the dentist needs to drill into the tooth. 

Once every layer is applied, the dentist shapes and polishes it to match the rest of your teeth, creating a natural-looking smile. If you decide to get dental bonding, here is what you can expect. 

Preparation 

There is no preparation required for the dental bonding procedure. When visiting the dentist, they will examine your oral cavity and determine the areas requiring bonding. The dentist will also match the composite resin to the shade of your teeth so the bonding blends perfectly with the rest of your smile. 

Application Of The Bonding

When the dentist begins the procedure, they will roughen the surface of the teeth to prepare for the bonding agent. A conditioning liquid will then be applied; this helps the resin bond easily to the tooth’s surface. The dentist will then apply the composite resin, hardening it in layers and shaping it to match the surrounding teeth. 

Pros Of Dental Bonding

• Easy, non-invasive procedure
• Cost-effective
• Painless
• Quick treatment 
• No anesthesia (unless the tooth needs to be cut down)
• Minimal effect on the natural tooth
• No recovery time

Cons Of Dental Bonding

• Dental bonds are non-resistant to stains, compared to other cosmetic treatments like crowns, veneers, etc. 
• Not as strong as a dental crown, veneer, etc. 
• Prone to breaking and chipping

After Care

The composite resin used during the treatment usually lasts between 4 to 8 years. Depending on where the bond is placed in your mouth and how well it is maintained can affect how long it will last. The resin is not as strong as a natural tooth, so it is important to take these precautions: 

• Avoid chewing ice
• Avoid hard candy
• Don’t chew on pencils or pens
• Don’t bite your nails
• Avoid jaw clenching and teeth grinding 

The composite resin is also not stain resistant; therefore, avoiding foods and beverages that are darker in color can help you avoid staining; this includes: 

• Red wines, tea, coffee, soda, etc. 
• Food with artificial colors
• Avoid acidic foods 
• Smoking: this can not only affect the composite resin, but it also affects your overall oral health

Dental bonding is a relatively simple, non-invasive procedure. This cosmetic treatment can easily fix the appearance of your smile and achieve natural-looking results. The natural teeth aren’t affected during this procedure, as in the case of crowns and veneers, the natural tooth is cut down. Bonding is just the application of composite resin on the tooth’s surface; however, this procedure is non-permanent. Knox Mountain Dentistry takes extra care in providing quality results with dental bonding procedures; visit our website to learn more.