What is Dental Bonding?

Dental Bonding in Rigby, ID

Everyone wants to have a movie star smile. Unfortunately, few people are able to maintain a naturally radiant smile throughout their life. Because dental injuries and imperfections are so common, especially as we age, dental restorations may be necessary to restore the health and beauty of your teeth. At Cedar Creek Dental, our experienced dental team is proud to offer an array of restorative dental procedures that can help you achieve a healthier, more attractive smile quickly and easily, including dental bonding. Here’s what you should know about how a dental bonding procedure could benefit you before scheduling a free consultation with Dr. Mikesell.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a quick, painless, cost-effective dental procedure that is used to repair damaged teeth. It works by applying a thin layer of a durable tooth-colored resin material to the surface of your damaged teeth, then using a specialized ultraviolet light to harden this material and improve the overall appearance of the tooth.

Tooth bonding is a common dental treatment that is used to address a number of oral health concerns, including:

Decayed tooth
Cracked tooth
Chipped tooth
Severely discolored tooth
Gapped teeth
Misshapen teeth
Exposed roots
Cavities if you don’t want to use amalgam fillings
Make a tooth look longer

What To Expect From a Dental Bonding Procedure

The dental bonding process is quick and virtually pain-free, making it a convenient restorative dental procedure to have in one quick appointment, including during your routine dental exam.

Here’s what you can expect during your dental bonding procedure with Dr. Mikesell and his trusted team:

Preparation: For most patients, anesthesia is not needed for tooth bonding. Because of this, there is no need to prepare with fasting or medication. In some cases, conscious sedation may be used if the tooth is severely decayed or the dentist will be working nearing a nerve. Most commonly, preparing for your tooth bonding procedure is as simple as Dr. Mikesell choosing the right color resin to match the shade of your natural teeth.
Bonding Procedure: Dr. Mikesell will carefully roughen the surface of the tooth in preparation for the resin. Next, he will apply a conditioning liquid. He will then apply the tooth-colored, putty like resin and mold it into the desired shape, position, and size. After the resin has sufficiently hardened, he will make any final adjustments and complete the procedure by polishing it until it matches your surrounding teeth.
Amount of Time: Typically, dental bonding lasts between 30 minutes and one hour per tooth depending on the patient’s dental condition and needs.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Bonding?

While tooth bonding is a great option for most people to repair chipped, cracked, or damaged teeth quickly and conveniently, it’s not for everyone. A tooth bonding treatment should not be used to address:

Severely decayed teeth
One or more missing teeth
Major tooth injuries

Additionally, tooth bonding should only be used for patients who are satisfied with the color of their teeth. If you plan on having your smile enhanced with a professional tooth whitening treatment, it’s a good idea to have your teeth whitened prior to your dental bonding. This is because while a professional whitening treatment will effectively lighten the shade of your natural teeth, it will not do the same on your bond. Because of this, whitening your teeth after having a bond placed will result in unwanted tooth discoloration or two-toned teeth.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bonding?

There are many benefits to having your front teeth improved with a professional dental bonding treatment, including:

Improving the natural beauty of one or more damaged or discolored teeth
Minimally invasive: The integrity of your tooth will not be altered in any way
A painless procedure that does not require the use of anesthetics
Quick and convenient: Achieve a more attractive smile in as little as one dental appointment
Durable: Dental bonding can last as long as a decade with good oral hygiene habits

What Are the Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding has many advantages, however, it does come with some disadvantages as well. These include:

Not being as stain-resistant as other dental restorations, such as crowns
Being more prone to chipping or breaking than veneers
Not being as strong or long-lasting as fillings, veneers, or crowns

Ultimately, dental bonding is a great option for minor cosmetic concerns in low bite pressure areas, especially front teeth. They shouldn’t be used for significant oral health concerns.

What Are the Risks of Dental Bonding?

While other dental restorations can alter the shape or integrity of your tooth, such as veneers, dental bonding is very safe. Because it is minimally invasive, there are virtually no risks to having a tooth bonded. Even better, the composite resin used to bond the cracks, chips, or other aesthetic problems with your tooth can easily be fixed when necessary and tends to be stronger and less likely to chip than dental crowns or veneers.

What Is the Difference Between Tooth Bonding and Veneers?

Veneers are another cosmetic dental procedure that is used to restore the appearance of damaged front teeth. While veneers and bonding aim to correct many of the same oral health concerns, there are some significant differences between the two treatments. Veneers are made of wafer-thin porcelain shells that are placed over the damaged teeth like caps. They are most commonly used on teeth with significant damage, while dental bonding is more appropriate for teeth with minimal oral concerns. Additionally, veneers are quite durable and can often last as long as a lifetime with good oral habits.

How to Care for Your Bonded Tooth

Caring for your bonded tooth with good oral hygiene practices is the best way to ensure that your dental restoration stays as strong and beautiful as possible for years to come. It’s important to note that composite resin is not as strong or durable as your natural tooth enamel. Because of this, it’s best to avoid activities that could jeopardize the well-being of your tooth bonding.

Here are some practical steps to keep your bonded tooth in tip-top shape:

Brush your teeth twice a day
Floss and use mouth rinse daily
Don’t use tobacco
Avoid biting down on objects, such as ice or fingernails, or other hard food objects, such as candy or raw vegetables
Limit exposure to stain-causing foods, such as red wine and black coffee, since teeth whitening is discouraged after dental bonding
Visit your dentist twice a year for routine dental exams and professional cleanings
Call your dentist right away if your bonded tooth feels unusual or it develops sharp edges

Enhance Your Smile at Cedar Creek Dental

Improving the appearance of your cracked, damaged, or chipped teeth can be as simple as stopping by the dentist for one office visit. At Cedar Creek Dental, our friendly dental team is proud to offer numerous restorative and cosmetic dental procedures, including teeth bonding. With dental bonding, you can enhance the natural beauty of your front teeth quickly, conveniently, and affordably. You don’t have to hide your damaged smile from the world for one more day. Visit us online to schedule your free consultation to learn more about how dental bonding could benefit you. We can’t wait to give you a reason to smile again!