In summary, dental bonding consists of a tooth-colored resin is applied on the tooth to repair a broken, chipped, decayed, or stained tooth. The durable resin plastic material which is hardened on special light to bond with the tooth. The procedure itself is called bonding because the material actually bonds with the tooth
Dental bonding can be done in a single sitting, unlike veneers which are manufactured in a laboratory and require a customized mold for proper fitting. Dental bonding can also be quite cost-effective than veneers.
When Should I Consider Dental Bonding?
There are a variety of situations where the dental bonding solution can apply.
- Composite resins can be used to fill cavities, thereby repairing decayed cavities
- Repairing cracked or chipped teeth
- Closing the gaps between teeth
- Can be used to improve the appearance of discolored teeth
- Making teeth appear longer and even changing their shape
- An alternative to amalgam fillings.
- Can also be used as a protection of an exposed portion of a tooth when gums recede
Dental Bonding Process
Usually, little preparation is needed for the procedure. Unless bonding is being used to fill tooth decays, anesthesia is not necessary. But sometimes drilling is necessary to change the tooth’s shape, or the nerve is near which can cause pain, thus anesthesia.b
By use of a shade guide, the dentist selects the composite resin color that closely matches your tooth color.
Now that he has the color, the dentist will abrade the tooth surface slightly just to roughen it up. After this step, the tooth is coated with a conditioning liquid that helps the bonding material adhere. Your tooth is now fully prepared
Next, the dentist applies the putty-like resin which resembles the color of your tooth. The resin is smoothed and molded until the proper shape is achieved. Then, an ultraviolet laser or light is used to harden the material.
Upon hardening, the dentist further trims and shapes the tooth. He thereafter polishes the material until the right sheen that matches the rest of the tooth surface.
Furthermore, the whole procedure may take an hour to complete. For patients with more than one tooth requiring the same, you might be needed to schedule several visits.
After Treatment Care
For the first 48 hours, avoid eating or drinking substances that can stain the resin. Coffee, tea, and cigarette smoke are among such substances. Moreover, it’s important to take dental care of your teeth by having them cleaned regularly by a dental hygienist.
Also, the resin material used in the bonding procedure is not as durable as a natural tooth. Biting and chewing hard materials like fingernails or even pens can chip the resin. Bonding is in any case needed to be repaired after every few years. In addition, dental bonding can last several years with proper maintenance.
Learn More
Speak with our dental team to learn more about dental bonding. Contact Worcester Quality Dental to schedule a consultation. Call (508) 754-0918 or book an appointment online.
