What is Dental Bonding?
Chipped or damaged teeth can happen in an instant to anyone. Accidents happen even to those who take great care for them not to happen. Luckily for everyone, there are many ways to repair chipped or damaged teeth. One of the most common ways is dental bonding. Dental bonding is a cost-effective solution for minor dental flaws and other issues that are caused by broken teeth. If you have damaged teeth and are considering dental bonding, read on to learn more about it and what you can expect.
What is dental bonding?
Dental bonding is the process of placing composite resin onto the surface of the tooth to repair it from damage. The procedure for application is simple and pain free. It is usually completed in one visit.
Dental bonding is used to fix numerous issues such as repairing chipped or damaged teeth, repairing discolored teeth, close large spaces between teeth, or to change the shape of teeth to make them appear longer or even. In other cases, bonding is used to protect exposed roots of a tooth or receding gums in place of amalgam or metallic fillings.
What is the procedure for installing dental bonding?
The procedure for installing dental bonding is a simple procedure performed on an outpatient basis. It can usually be completed in one visit and is pain-free. In short, the procedure involves the dentist applying a resin composed of composite plastic material to the broken tooth. The resin can be molded and shaped to meet the desired result. The steps of the process are:
- First, the dental professional cleans the tooth needing repair. This creates the best possible bonding surface.
- Next, they apply the resin to the tooth and shape the bonding material to the desired shape depending on the outcomes expected.
- Then, the bonding material is dried using a UV light, which cures the material and hardens it. During this step some additional shaping will take place.
- Finally, the dental professional will polish the bonding for a natural shine. Then, they will floss the tooth to ensure the restoration is smooth.
The procedure takes less than an hour usually, but if multiple teeth require bonding or there are other issues needing solved, the procedure can take longer. Additionally, most tooth bonding procedures do not require anesthesia, so the recovery is minimal.
Are there risks with dental bonding?
The only downside to tooth bonding is that the composite resin is not as durable or strong as a natural tooth. This means that there is a risk of damaging the bonding over time, especially if a person’s lifestyle and habits are rougher on the teeth. To help avoid this risk it is important to make dietary and habit changes if you regularly eat hard or crunchy foods, bite your fingers, chew ice, etc. These types of behaviors increase the risk of damaging the bonding.
What does this mean for me?
If you are considering dental bonding to fix a damaged tooth, speak with your dentist today. They will be able to guide you through the process and answer any questions you have about your specific circumstances.