Direct bonding uses composite resin — a tooth-colored material made from a mixture of acrylic resin and fine glass particles. The composite is applied to the tooth as a soft, moldable putty, then shaped by Dr. Kriston’s hand directly on the tooth. A blue curing light hardens the material instantly, and the restoration is polished to a smooth, natural finish. Once the light has cured the composite, it’s fully hard — you can eat right after your appointment.
Direct bonding is typically completed in a single visit. One tooth can take as little as 20 minutes depending on the area to be covered and the complexity of the color matching. Composite has the color characteristics of tooth enamel and comes in many shades. Dr. Kriston can further modify the color using tints and opaquers to match even the most challenging natural tooth shades.
Direct bonding is ideal for:
Indirect bonding uses restorations that are designed digitally and fabricated in a dental laboratory from ceramic — a material that is significantly stronger and more wear-resistant than composite resin. Because these restorations are made outside the mouth, the ceramist can achieve a level of fit, strength, and aesthetic detail that’s difficult to replicate chairside.
Indirect bonded restorations include:
Inlays. An inlay fills a cavity or damaged area within the cusps (the raised points) of a back tooth. Think of it as a puzzle piece that fits precisely into the middle of the tooth, replacing only the damaged portion while preserving the healthy surrounding structure. Inlays are stronger than composite fillings and ideal for moderate-sized cavities on molars and premolars.
Onlays. An onlay covers one or more of the cusps — the biting surface of a posterior tooth. When a tooth has too much damage for an inlay but not enough for a full crown, an onlay is the conservative middle ground. It covers and protects the biting surface while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
Ceramic inlays and onlays are bonded to the tooth using an adhesive technique that creates an incredibly strong, unified restoration. Like composite, they’re completely metal-free and mercury-free. But their ceramic composition gives them stain resistance and durability that significantly outlasts composite — making them the preferred choice for high-wear areas.
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The single biggest difference between average dental bonding and exceptional dental bonding is what happens at the edge — the margin where the restoration meets your natural tooth.
In average bonding, you can see where the composite ends and the tooth begins. There’s a visible line, a slight change in color or texture, or a ridge you can feel with your tongue. It looks like a repair.
In Dr. Kriston’s bonding, that edge disappears. The composite or ceramic feathers seamlessly into the surrounding enamel so that neither you, nor anyone looking at your smile, can tell where the natural tooth ends and the restoration begins. This isn’t about using better materials — it’s about the technique of layering, color matching, and finishing that comes from 38 years of practice.
Whether it’s a small composite repair on a front tooth or a ceramic onlay on a molar, Dr. Kriston treats every bonded restoration as an opportunity to make the work invisible. That’s the standard.
Tooth gaps exist for different reasons. The upper center teeth may have inherited spacing. Tongue thrusting or habits like chewing on a pencil can force teeth apart over time. A missing tooth can cause adjacent teeth to drift. Gum disease causes receding gums and loose teeth to shift. Even teeth grinding can push teeth outward and apart.
There are two ways to fix tooth gaps: teeth can be moved together (with Invisalign or other orthodontics) or made wider (with bonding or veneers). Dr. Kriston evaluates tooth size and proportions to determine which approach will make the closure look natural. Small to medium gaps can often be closed beautifully with composite bonding in a single visit.
For larger gaps, spreading the space among multiple teeth with veneers keeps proportions natural rather than making two teeth unnaturally wide. This can actually become an opportunity for a broader smile makeover — fixing the gap while also addressing worn teeth, alignment, and shade all at once.
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By fully covering the face of a tooth with composite, Dr. Kriston can make a complete change in color, shape, or alignment in a single visit. Composite veneers are more affordable than porcelain and require no lab fabrication time. They’re a good option for patients who want a significant cosmetic improvement with a more conservative investment — though they don’t have the longevity or glass-like translucency of porcelain veneers.
A chipped front tooth can be repaired so seamlessly with composite bonding that no one would ever know it happened. Dr. Kriston matches the shade, builds the missing structure layer by layer, shapes it to match the original anatomy, and polishes it to a natural finish. Most chip repairs take 20 to 30 minutes per tooth.
If you still have silver amalgam fillings from years ago, bonding offers a way to replace them with tooth-colored, mercury-free restorations. Beyond the cosmetic improvement, replacing old metal fillings can sometimes reveal hidden cracks or decay that developed under the old restoration. Dr. Kriston evaluates each tooth to determine whether a direct composite filling or a stronger ceramic inlay or onlay is the better replacement.
Before committing to porcelain veneers, Dr. Kriston can create a composite mock-up — composite material applied temporarily to your teeth without adhesive to preview what veneers would look like. You can see the proposed shape, length, and proportions in real life, then the composite is removed completely without changing the enamel surface. It’s a “test drive” for your new smile.
One of Dr. Kriston’s core principles is that the best dentistry preserves as much natural tooth structure as possible. Every millimeter of healthy enamel that stays intact is a millimeter of strength, insulation, and natural beauty that doesn’t need to be replaced with a material.
This philosophy shapes how he approaches bonding at every level — from how he prepares a cavity to how he designs an onlay. The goal is always to remove only what’s damaged and preserve everything that’s healthy.
Molars and premolars have deep pits and grooves on their biting surfaces — developmental features that are a natural part of the tooth’s anatomy. But these grooves can be so narrow and deep that toothbrush bristles can’t reach the bottom, making them highly susceptible to cavity formation.
Rather than waiting for a cavity to develop and then drilling it out, Dr. Kriston uses a preventive technique: placing a small amount of flowable composite resin into these deep pits and grooves. The resin seals the vulnerable areas, blocking bacteria and food debris from settling in. It’s non-invasive — no drilling, no anesthesia — and it can prevent a cavity that would otherwise require a much larger filling down the road.
This is minimally invasive dentistry at its most proactive: addressing the risk before the damage occurs.
When a cavity does develop, Dr. Kriston’s approach is to remove only the decay and preserve every bit of healthy tooth structure around it. He uses careful, precision techniques to keep the preparation as small as possible — then bonds composite or ceramic into the prepared space to restore the tooth’s strength and appearance.
This contrasts with the traditional approach of “extending” the preparation to create mechanical retention for the filling material. Modern adhesive bonding techniques eliminate the need for that extra tooth removal. The result is a smaller, more conservative restoration that preserves more of the valuable natural tooth structure.
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Tooth bonding is not permanent. Composite resin wears faster than natural enamel, and you should avoid biting hard foods directly on bonded edges. Teeth grinding can accelerate wear, so a night guard may be recommended. Composite also absorbs stains more easily than enamel — coffee, tea, and red wine will gradually affect the color — and it cannot be whitened with standard whitening gels.
With good care, composite bonding typically lasts 5 to 10 years before it needs to be repaired or replaced. Ceramic inlays and onlays last significantly longer — often 10 to 20 years or more.
For patients who want long-term cosmetic changes with superior stain resistance and strength, Dr. Kriston recommends ceramic restorations — inlays, onlays, or porcelain veneers — which can match or exceed the performance of natural enamel.
Composite bonded to a tooth can be removed, but the tooth surface may not be exactly the same as it was before bonding. Tooth preparation and the adhesive can make changes to the enamel surface that are irreversible. This is an important consideration when choosing between bonding and more conservative options like cosmetic tooth reshaping.
The exception is a mock-up. When composite is applied temporarily without adhesive — to preview a veneer design, for example — it can be removed completely without changing the enamel surface.
Bonding is one of those procedures that every dentist offers — but not every dentist does well. The difference is in the details: the shade matching, the layering technique, the surface texture, and above all, the transition at the margins where restoration meets tooth.
Dr. Kriston’s 38 years of cosmetic experience mean he approaches every bonded restoration — whether it’s a small chip repair or a full set of ceramic onlays — with the same standard: make the work invisible. His practice is equipped with Medit digital scanning for precise impressions and digital design, ensuring that indirect restorations (inlays and onlays) fit with laboratory-level accuracy.
And because Dr. Kriston’s practice philosophy is rooted in minimally invasive dentistry, patients know that he’ll always recommend the most conservative approach that achieves the goal — bonding when bonding works, ceramic when strength demands it, and veneers when the cosmetic vision requires it.
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By far the best dentist I’ve had! Extremely thoughtful in his work, taking time to explain the reasoning behind decisions and will even show you the details of what is going on with your teeth through a micro camera. I had a few significant issues with my teeth, and Michael was the first of four dentists I had seen to provide a thoughtful long term solution in the least invasive way possible. He is truly concerned with the health and function of your teeth and gums, and is extremely skilled to implement great solutions. Would highly recommend.
I had my first visit with Dr. Kriston and had the best experience in a dental office, by far. I was looking for a dentist to revamp my smile and a friend recommended Dr. Kriston. Dr. Kriston spent a lot of time listening to my vision and together we came up with a plan for my smile that I'm very happy with. Everyone in the office was friendly, helpful and welcoming. My bar was set high and Dr. Kriston went well above it with his knowledge, recommendations and real understanding of my situation.
The office is beautiful, modern and spotless. They have relaxing music playing throughout that right away made me feel calm. The front receptionist is very attentive and supportive; she answered all my questions and clearly explained the cost and my insurance. I qualified for an interest free payment plan and was able to afford my dream smile.
I just had to write this review because I'm so happy I found Dr. Kriston. I've been self conscious about my teeth for years and I just couldn't find a dentist I felt this good about. I highly recommend Dr. Kriston.
Clean, professional, and easy to use. Velora gave my agency the polished online presence it needed."
Clean, professional, and easy to use. Velora gave my agency the polished online presence it needed."
Clean, professional, and easy to use. Velora gave my agency the polished online presence it needed."
Clean, professional, and easy to use. Velora gave my agency the polished online presence it needed."
By far the best dentist I’ve had! Extremely thoughtful in his work, taking time to explain the reasoning behind decisions and will even show you the details of what is going on with your teeth through a micro camera. I had a few significant issues with my teeth, and Michael was the first of four dentists I had seen to provide a thoughtful long term solution in the least invasive way possible. He is truly concerned with the health and function of your teeth and gums, and is extremely skilled to implement great solutions. Would highly recommend.
I had my first visit with Dr. Kriston and had the best experience in a dental office, by far. I was looking for a dentist to revamp my smile and a friend recommended Dr. Kriston. Dr. Kriston spent a lot of time listening to my vision and together we came up with a plan for my smile that I'm very happy with. Everyone in the office was friendly, helpful and welcoming. My bar was set high and Dr. Kriston went well above it with his knowledge, recommendations and real understanding of my situation.
The office is beautiful, modern and spotless. They have relaxing music playing throughout that right away made me feel calm. The front receptionist is very attentive and supportive; she answered all my questions and clearly explained the cost and my insurance. I qualified for an interest free payment plan and was able to afford my dream smile.
I just had to write this review because I'm so happy I found Dr. Kriston. I've been self conscious about my teeth for years and I just couldn't find a dentist I felt this good about. I highly recommend Dr. Kriston.
By far the best dentist I’ve had! Extremely thoughtful in his work, taking time to explain the reasoning behind decisions and will even show you the details of what is going on with your teeth through a micro camera. I had a few significant issues with my teeth, and Michael was the first of four dentists I had seen to provide a thoughtful long term solution in the least invasive way possible. He is truly concerned with the health and function of your teeth and gums, and is extremely skilled to implement great solutions. Would highly recommend.
I had my first visit with Dr. Kriston and had the best experience in a dental office, by far. I was looking for a dentist to revamp my smile and a friend recommended Dr. Kriston. Dr. Kriston spent a lot of time listening to my vision and together we came up with a plan for my smile that I'm very happy with. Everyone in the office was friendly, helpful and welcoming. My bar was set high and Dr. Kriston went well above it with his knowledge, recommendations and real understanding of my situation.
The office is beautiful, modern and spotless. They have relaxing music playing throughout that right away made me feel calm. The front receptionist is very attentive and supportive; she answered all my questions and clearly explained the cost and my insurance. I qualified for an interest free payment plan and was able to afford my dream smile.
I just had to write this review because I'm so happy I found Dr. Kriston. I've been self conscious about my teeth for years and I just couldn't find a dentist I felt this good about. I highly recommend Dr. Kriston.
By far the best dentist I’ve had! Extremely thoughtful in his work, taking time to explain the reasoning behind decisions and will even show you the details of what is going on with your teeth through a micro camera. I had a few significant issues with my teeth, and Michael was the first of four dentists I had seen to provide a thoughtful long term solution in the least invasive way possible. He is truly concerned with the health and function of your teeth and gums, and is extremely skilled to implement great solutions. Would highly recommend.
I had my first visit with Dr. Kriston and had the best experience in a dental office, by far. I was looking for a dentist to revamp my smile and a friend recommended Dr. Kriston. Dr. Kriston spent a lot of time listening to my vision and together we came up with a plan for my smile that I'm very happy with. Everyone in the office was friendly, helpful and welcoming. My bar was set high and Dr. Kriston went well above it with his knowledge, recommendations and real understanding of my situation.
The office is beautiful, modern and spotless. They have relaxing music playing throughout that right away made me feel calm. The front receptionist is very attentive and supportive; she answered all my questions and clearly explained the cost and my insurance. I qualified for an interest free payment plan and was able to afford my dream smile.
I just had to write this review because I'm so happy I found Dr. Kriston. I've been self conscious about my teeth for years and I just couldn't find a dentist I felt this good about. I highly recommend Dr. Kriston.
