Dental bonding is a procedure that can be used to treat a variety of dental issues. Dentists use bonding to repair cracks and chips, protect teeth or enhance their appearance. Sometimes the affected tooth needs to be prepared for bonding before the procedure can be completed, but this is not always the case. In many instances, very little or no preparation of the tooth surface is required. Depending on the procedure, you may not even require anesthesia.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is used in cosmetic dentistry to restore or achieve natural beauty in a tooth or several teeth. It is used in conjunction with composite resin to fill cavities, particularly in anterior teeth. The material is matched in color to the existing tooth structure, making the repair virtually invisible. Composite fillings have been used for decades to repair and fill front teeth.
More recently, with advancements in technology and dental materials, composite fillings are also used to replace amalgam or silver fillings in posterior teeth. The bonding agent allows your dentist to restore your tooth with a minimum loss of healthy tooth structure.
Bonding can be used to alter or improve the shape of a tooth. Short teeth can be made to look longer, creating a more pleasant smile. Narrow teeth can be widened to close the small gaps between the teeth.
The procedure is also used to make teeth appear whiter when regular whitening products cannot do the job. A tooth that is permanently discolored or mottled can be covered using dental bonding to restore a uniform color.
Tooth Repair
Bonding is used in the repair of cracked or chipped teeth. Occasionally, if part of a tooth has been chipped or broken off, it can be “glued” back in place with the bonding agent. The chemistry between the bonding agent and the tooth structure work together to create a permanent, durable bond. When this is not possible, a composite resin in the same color of the tooth is bonded on to make the repair.
Dental bonding has several uses in restorations, cosmetic applications and repairing teeth. Contact Rivers + West Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment, and discover how dental bonding can enhance the appearance of your teeth.