A smile that is dulled by stained, chipped, cracked or misaligned teeth can be restored quickly and easily with tooth bonding. In fact, bonding is among the easiest and least expensive options of cosmetic procedures, because usually it is done in one office visit without requiring any custom work from an outside lab. In addition, it usually doesn’t require anesthesia, and bonding removes the least amount of tooth enamel.
Bonding is best considered for:
- the repair of decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
- the repair of chipped or cracked teeth
- improvement in the appearance of discolored teeth
- closing spaces between teeth
- making teeth look longer
- changing the shape of teeth
- a cosmetic alternative to amalgam (metal) fillings
A typical dental bonding procedure takes between 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete. During the procedure, the surface of the tooth is roughened and a conditioning liquid is applied. A thin coating of plastic, or resin, is painted over the damaged tooth, molded and smoothed to the desired shape. The material is then hardened with a blue colored light, and a final trim, shape and tooth polish is performed to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.
Bonded teeth are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, because the resin color is selected from a shade guide to closely match the color of the tooth.
Depending on oral habits and the amount of bonding that is done, bonding materials last anywhere from three to 10 years before a touch up or replacement is necessary.
For more information about bonding, call Goers Dental Care in Darien – 630-789-0900.