Your dentist can change the form or color of your tooth by “bonding” or putting materials directly into it. This procedure is known as cosmetic bonding. Then, using bonding materials like porcelain and resins, they fuse your original tooth enamel together to produce a solid framework that feels exactly like your natural tooth.
Although dentists in Van Nuys use dental bonding for a variety of reasons, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry states that it is most efficient when used to fix chipped teeth. This is because the porcelain and bonding components are naturally colored, resulting in a final look that closely resembles the teeth next to you. For more information, contact Van Nuys dentistry.
Things you should know about dental bonding
The dentist selects the composite resin hue that will most nearly resemble the color of your teeth using a shade guide in this cosmetic dentistry process. After deciding on a color, they will roughen the surface of your teeth by lightly etching or abrading it. To help it stick to the dental bonding material, they will carefully apply a conditioning liquid to your tooth.
The dentist will apply the tooth-colored, putty-like resin after preparing the tooth. The resin will be molded and polished until it takes on the correct shape. After that, they will use UV light or a laser to harden the substance.
After the solidification of the bonding substance, they will:
- Cut it
- Shape it
- Polish it.
This is what they’ll keep doing until it matches the shine of the rest of your teeth. The entire process usually takes little more than an hour to finish. If you plan on having two or more teeth done, you may need to make several appointments.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Dental Bonding
The use of dental bonding has both benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits of Dental Bonding
- It is one of the simplest and least expensive cosmetic dentistry operations.
- The composite resin can be shaped and polished by the dentist so it fits in with the surrounding teeth.
- It is often applied cosmetically to fill in gaps between teeth or to make a chipped or discolored tooth look better.
- It can occasionally be used as a cosmetic alternative for fillings or to cover a portion of your tooth’s root that has become exposed as a result of gum recession.
Drawbacks of Dental Bonding
- Because it is made up of composite resin, a unique kind of plastic, the substance that the dentist uses for tooth bonding is solid but not as long-lasting as the enamel of your native tooth. Biting into hard foods involves extra care to avoid breaking or chipping the bond.
- It is not very resistant to stains. Deep-colored foods, such as coffee or red wine, are easier to absorb by the composite resin because it is more permeable than porcelain or tooth enamel.
- Compared to its alternatives, it has a shorter shelf life—roughly three to seven years as opposed to 40 years for a crown.
What Qualifies as an Appropriate Dental Bonding Candidate?
If you have cosmetic issues with your smile, dental bonding is an excellent choice for you. Therefore, bonding cannot be used to fix injuries or extreme degradation. However, bonding could be an excellent means to deal with little problems like:
- Discoloration
- Your teeth’s gaps
- Small chips
- Cracks in your enamel
Cosmetic bonding can readily fix these types of problems because they do not need extensive restorative treatment.
Example Issues that Dental Bonding Can Fix
Tooth bonding has several applications. It is ideal for fixing little chips and cracks, and it can also fix other aesthetic dental issues like:
- Age-related wear has caused teeth to get uneven and worn down.
- Teeth stained due to genetics, drugs, or trauma
- Teeth that were out of place and overlapped or separated
- Teeth rotated and twisted due to faulty positioning
To find out if dental bonding is the right choice for your cosmetic dentistry requirements, consult a dentist.
