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Tooth bonding uses composite resin to restore, reshape and revitalize teeth. Bonding can be used to close gaps, repair minor chips, fill cavities and much more. Bonding one tooth can take as little as 20 minutes depending area to be covered and color matching. Composite is applied to teeth as a soft putty, shaped by hand, hardened by a blue light and polished. Once exposed to blue light composite is fully hard. You can eat right after your appointment.
Composite bonding looks very natural. It has color characteristics of tooth enamel and many shades. The color can be modified by tints and opaquers. Fully covering the face of a tooth allows a complete change in color, shape or alignment.
Tooth bonding is not permanent. Composite wears faster than tooth enamel and you should avoid hard foods where bonding is on the biting edges of teeth. Teeth grinding can accelerate the wear of composite. Composite resin also absorbs stains more easily than tooth enamel. Tooth bonding cannot be whitened with whitening gels. Composite does not have the same structure as enamel. Eventually tooth bonding needs to be replaced. For long term cosmetic changes, we recommend ceramic with stain resistance and strength that can exceed enamel!
Composite bonded to the tooth is removable, but the tooth surface may not be exactly the same as it was before the bonding. Tooth preparation and adhesive can make changes to the tooth surface that are irreversible. Composite can be used to preview veneers, however. We call it a mock-up. Composite is added to teeth temporarily, without adhesive, then removed completely without changing the enamel surface.
Tooth bonding is an affordable and natural looking way to make cosmetic changes. It’s ideal for low wear areas and, with some special care, can be a great solution to repairing a smile.
Reasons for cosmetic bonding
- Closing spaces or gaps
- Fixing chipped teeth
- Fixing decayed teeth (teeth with cavities)
- Lengthening uneven teeth
- Protecting roots exposed by receding gums
- Restoring badly discolored teeth
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If you want to regain confidence in your smile, contact our practice to learn more about bonding.
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