Dental bonding can cover up imperfections on the tooth using tooth-colored resin. Bonding can help patients who wish to restore the original state of their teeth. It is often used to fix decayed or chipped teeth, discoloration, gaps, short teeth, or receded gums. Dental bonding cannot solve problems such as severe discoloration or damage.
Tooth bonding is an excellent option as it is a relatively easy and affordable procedure. It can be completed in just one session unless several teeth need fixing. Usually, the process does not require anesthesia.
Some of the cons of dental bonding are that bonded teeth may stain over time. They could also chip off easier than dental crowns. Patients should have dental bonding before teeth whitening. Bonded teeth will not get lighter compared to the rest of their natural teeth during the process.
The procedure may also take longer if more than one tooth is involved; each tooth usually takes 30-60 minutes to complete.
Dental bonding requires minimal preparation. Anesthesia is only needed if the dentist is working on decayed teeth or in cases where the teeth require deeper drilling.
Before beginning the procedure, the dentist picks the shade of resin that closely matches your natural tooth color. Then, they slightly roughen the tooth surface before applying a conditioning solution. This helps the resin hold onto the tooth better. The resin is then applied and shaped before it is hardened using intense blue light. Once the resin solidifies, the dentist files and trims the edges and polishes the tooth for a natural sheen.
Bonded teeth need some care as there is a possibility of chipping. This risk is especially true if the patient tends to bite their fingernails or open items with their teeth. Patients should also avoid hard foods such as chewing on ice cubes. The lifespan of bonded teeth can range from 3-10 years, but this largely depends on diet, oral habits, and the regularity of care.
