Do you have chips or cracks in your tooth enamel? Are your minor cosmetic imperfections impacting the look of your smile? Try teeth bonding in our Bladenboro, NC dental office. Dr. Shannon French and her experienced dental team offer cosmetic dentistry solutions that address the look and feel of the smile.
Dental bonding uses a biocompatible material that is molded and sculpted onto the teeth. This treatment can cover tooth stains, address chips or cracks in the enamel, and lengthen short teeth.
Dental Bonding Treatment
To begin, we use a local anesthetic to numb the treated area. Then, we lightly remove a bit of enamel from the tooth or teeth receiving treatment. This is done to create a good bonding surface for the composite resin. We will then mold the composite resin onto the tooth into the desired shape. The resin is then cured with light and heat.
We polish the tooth and ensure that it matches the rest of your natural teeth. Color-matching the resin helps create a uniform and balanced look.
Dental bonding is best for small cosmetic concerns. Porcelain veneers are another alternative that works best for patients with larger areas of damage. Although dental veneers typically last longer than tooth bonding treatment, they are more costly and often require a longer treatment time.
How to Care for Bonded Teeth
Be gentle on your teeth after you receive tooth bonding treatment. The bonding material can chip if you chew ice, eat hard foods, or bite your nails. For the first 48 hours following your dental bonding treatment, avoid drinking beverages or eating foods that can stain the bonding material.
Tea, wine, berries, tomatoes, and coffee are some of the most common foods and beverages that contain chromogens, pigments that stain the tooth enamel. Remember to keep up your oral hygiene routine and schedule regular dental appointments. Our team can help maintain your results and keep your teeth healthy and clean.
The Benefits of Tooth Bonding
Dental bonding is ideal for a variety of different cosmetic and restorative problems. It treats everything that porcelain veneers do and more. Bonding material is suitable for filling cavities, particularly in teeth you can prominently see in your smile. Unlike traditional amalgam fillings, the bonding material is a biocompatible resin that we color-match to the shade of your smile. The resin is malleable as we shape it to fill the space where the decayed tooth structure was.
Bonding is a minimally invasive, completely removable restoration. We only need to roughen the tooth’s surface to improve the bond between the resin and your tooth. We can do so anytime if you want to remove the bonding material. Because of this, bonding is a restoration we can use for children. There are no permanent impacts on the teeth we’re treating.
Tooth bonding is also ideal because it’s quick and cost-effective. It takes only one office visit to complete dental bonding treatment. It doesn’t require downtime, so you can return to school or work right after your appointment. It’s cheaper because it’s a temporary restoration, and dental insurance usually covers at least a portion. Dental bonding can last many years but doesn’t permanently alter the tooth structure. Almost every patient is eligible for tooth bonding treatment.
Tooth Bonding FAQs
Is tooth bonding a permanent restoration?
No, one of the unique things about dental bonding is that it’s completely removable and reversible. If you decide that you no longer want the restoration or are ready to try something more permanent, we can take care of that at any time.
How long does tooth bonding last?
On average, tooth bonding lasts around three to seven years. The length of time it lasts depends on the size and location of the tooth in your mouth and how well you take care of it. If you’re diligent with your oral health, bonding can last even longer.
How soon after the bonding process am I able to eat and drink?
You’re able to eat and drink directly after your appointment. The resin used for bonding is completely cured during the in-office process. However, we recommend avoiding foods and drinks that can stain the bonding material in the first 48 hours. During this time, the material is especially susceptible to staining.
Is there anything I can’t do with tooth bonding?
The bonding material is like your natural teeth surface; it can stain over time. Unlike natural teeth, however, traditional whitening techniques won’t work on the bonding material. Though it’s resilient, bonding material can also chip or break. Try to avoid biting down on hard foods with your bonded tooth. Chewing ice and hard candies makes the material more likely to chip.
How do I take care of bonded teeth?
Dental bonding is a pretty low-maintenance procedure. Simply keep up with regular brushing and flossing and visit your dentist regularly. If any issues are developing with the bonding material, your dentist can catch them ahead of time and make sure they’re remedied.
Is dental bonding noticeable?
When it comes to the way it feels in your mouth, dental bonding may feel odd for the first week or two. It feels like your tooth is somehow bigger, but it’ll start to feel natural after this initial period.
Bonding isn’t noticeable when first done, as dentists polish the material to look like a natural tooth. However, bonding can stain over time and may start to appear as a different color compared to the rest of your tooth.
How long does the dental bonding procedure take?
Dental bonding can usually be done in just one visit to our office. It’s a non-invasive procedure, so you don’t have to worry about any downtime after it. You can go right back to regular activities. However, if you’re getting dental bonding on multiple teeth, you may need to schedule several appointments. Bonding for one tooth typically takes about 30-60 minutes.
Am I an ideal candidate for dental bonding?
One of the best things about dental bonding is that almost everyone is eligible for the treatment. Since it’s temporary, even children can get their teeth bonded. It’s one of the more cost-effective dental treatments, so it’s also affordable when you need a dental fix on a budget. There are many dental problems where bonding can also be a solution.
Request a Tooth Bonding Consultation Today
Treat chips and cracks in your smile with tooth bonding treatment. Call our dental office at 910-469-4592 or schedule a dental appointment with our team online.