Dental Bonding

Dental Bonding procedures are used for a variety of structural as well as cosmetic purposes. Dental Bonding on the anterior or front teeth is an excellent method for repairing minor imperfections such as chips and stains, and It can also be used to fill gaps between the teeth called diastemas. Dental bonding can brighten your smile quickly and easily, and often with no tooth removal or local anesthesia

In dental bonding a composite resin material is applied to the tooth and then sculpted and shaped to cover damaged areas or to fill in gaps. A high intensity light hardens the plastic, and the surfaces are finely polished. This material comes in several shades so it can be matched perfectly to the actual color of your tooth. Bonding usually requires only one visit, so it is less time consuming and less expensive than other tooth restoration methods. Composite fillings are nearly as strong as natural teeth and can last from ten to twenty years structurally. Esthetically, dental bonding has a five to seven year life span, depending upon food and hygiene habits. Smoking can stain dental bonding quite rapidly.

Dental bonding is accomplished by applying a very mild etching solution to the teeth to create small crevices in the tooth’s enamel structure. These small crevices provide a slightly rough surface permitting the resin to bond to the teeth. The resin is then placed on the tooth and high intensity light cures the resins on to the tooth’s surface. Each individual layer of resin hardens in just minutes. After the last coat has been applied the bonded material is then sculpted to fit the tooth and finely polished.

Except in complicated cases, bonding can be accomplished in one visit. The length of the visit will depend on the condition of your teeth and on how much repair work you are having done.
To maintain the results achieved by this procedure, it is important to practice good oral hygiene. Follow these steps to care for your teeth after bonding.

• Keep your teeth clean by brushing and flossing regularly
• Schedule regular professional cleanings by your dentist or dental hygienist
• Use gentle toothpaste that is safe for bonded teeth.
• Chewing hard objects like finger nails, pencils or paper clips should be avoided.

Porcelain veneers and crowns can often be used as an alternative to dental bonding. Providing a harder and denser structure than composite resin, porcelain restorations will never stain and have a twenty to thirty year structural life.  Treatment fees for porcelain veneers are significantly higher than cosmetic bonding.