Dental bonding refers to a dental procedure where a dentist will apply composite resin on one tooth or several teeth to repair the damage they have suffered. Composite resin is a tooth-colored durable plastic substance applied and bonded to teeth. This dental procedure is an alternative to teeth veneers and crowns and is among dentists’ commonly practiced oral procedures worldwide. Below you’ll find details about this process and the risks and benefits that come with it.
You can get teeth bonding done for various reasons. Dentists may recommend the procedure to:
The composite dental bonding process can be completed in one visit and is simpler than most cosmetic procedures done at the dentist’s office. Due to its simplicity, the use of anesthesia is not common unless when a large cavity needs to be cleaned and filled.
Preparation
The first procedure of getting a dental bonding is visiting your dentist and finding out if you are a perfect candidate for the procedure. If you are, the dentist will start the preparations. Bonding procedure requires little preparation, and in less severe cases, anesthesia is not used. However, anesthesia is recommended when the tooth receiving the bonding material needs to be drilled or filled because of tooth decay or the damage that happens to be near the tooth nerve. For aesthetic purposes, your dentist will pick a composite resin shade that closely matches the color of your natural teeth.
Bonding Process
After everything is set by the procedure, your tooth’s surface will be roughened and a conditioning liquid applied to it. This will help form a strong bond between the tooth and the tooth-colored composite resin. Next, the putty-like resin material is applied and molded to the shape desired. It is then smoothed, and with the help of special light, it is hardened, trimmed, and polished to match other teeth’ surfaces.
The whole bonding process will last between 30 minutes to an hour per tooth.
Dental bonding has some limitations, and thus, dental experts recommend getting them to fix minor cosmetic issues and short-term use. It should also be used to correct teeth problems in parts of a tooth exposed to low bite forces like the front teeth. If you are not sure about the type of cosmetic procedure to approach, have a talk with our dentist in Okemos. We will help you choose the one that is right for you.
Our dentists have years of experience in dentistry and are well familiar with multiple dental procedures. Here are some benefits you’ll enjoy when you come and get composite bonding at our dental office:
There aren’t any significant risks associated with a dental bonding procedure. However, you should note that the bonding material is weaker than natural teeth. Hence, the materials in bonded teeth are susceptible to breaking and chipping. Therefore, chances of sustaining damage on bonded teeth are high if you chew ice, pencils, or pens. Also, patients who have undergone this procedure are told to avoid biting their nails and biting down hard candy or food.
Smoking and high consumption of coffee will stain bonded teeth as the resin material is not much stain resistant.