Regain Your Smile With Dental Bonding

Your dentist can suggest dental bonding to correct minor flaws in your teeth. These problems may be minor, but they can worsen over time. Treating them in a non-invasive way can help make your smile look healthy again. Here are the details on how dental bonding can give you your smile back.

What this treatment is

Dental bonding is a non-intrusive treatment that applies composite resin to discolored and damaged teeth. A curing light will harden the material and strengthen its attachment to the teeth. Shaping and polishing the material will allow it to blend well with the natural dental structure. This reversible treatment can also correct minor gaps and misalignment.

Different types of dental bonding

The dentist will evaluate the patient’s case first. Recommending the right type of dental bonding will follow. The two most common variations of this treatment are direct and adhesive composite bonding. Below are their differences:

• Direct composite bonding uses tooth-colored resin material that can fill cavities, cracks, and chips. The procedure involves applying the resin material and shaping it well. Polishing it will help it blend with the rest of the dental structure. A curing light will fix the shape of the bonding material. This type of dental bonding will be over in one dental appointment. There is no need to prepare for this treatment.
• Adhesive bonding uses a bonding agent or an etchant to attach a type of dental restoration to the tooth. A curing light will keep the bond in place. Etching the tooth is necessary before attaching the bonding agent to the restoration.

The right candidate

Anyone with minor dental problems can have a dental bonding treatment. The patient will not need a long consultation before the procedure. However, discussing it will enable the patient to know how the procedure happens. The dentist will also explain the type of bonding treatment that can help the patient the most. The following are the situations that will need dental bonding:

• Cavity formation
• A space between teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Cracked teeth
• Worn-down teeth
• Misshaped teeth
• Dental staining and discoloration

After the procedure

Dental bonding is a temporary treatment. It is vulnerable to staining and chipping. That is why it is important to take good care of the newly treated teeth. Proper oral hygiene helps make it easy to prevent staining. Avoiding wine, coffee, and tea, as well as tobacco, can help keep the bonded teeth in top shape. Also, refrain from chewing objects and hard vegetables.

The benefits of dental bonding

This treatment is not expensive at all. Most people can get it. Insurance companies can cover part of the costs if the reason is to improve dental structure. This simple procedure will not need a whole day at the dental office. The patient will not need an anesthetic either.