Do you have a chipped tooth? Dental bonding is one of the easiest and cost-effective ways to restore broken teeth to full function and beauty.
Bonding uses tooth-colored materials to replace missing tooth structure or hide minor defects, such as chips, discoloration, or small spacing irregularities. Bonding materials are called composite resins because they contain a mixture of plastic and glass, which adds translucency and strength. The composite resins come in a variety of tooth shades and actually merge with the rest of the tooth, making it difficult if not impossible to distinguish the bonded area from the natural tooth.
Though bonding will not last as long as a dental veneer, it provides a lot of benefits. It can often be completed without drilling of the tooth, and can usually be completed in just one visit since it doesn’t involve sending any impressions to a dental laboratory. Bonding can be a particularly good solution for teenagers, who often need to wait until their teeth have finished maturing before choosing a more permanent type of dental restoration.
The Bonding Process
Here’s some more good news: tooth bonding can usually be accomplished in under an hour. First, the dentist or hygienist will clean the surface of the tooth to be bonded so it is plaque-free. The surface will then etched with a gel designed to open up tiny pores on the tooth. After the etching gel is rinsed off, the dentist will paint on a thin layer of the liquid composite resin in a well-matched shade. The liquid fills the tiny pores to create a strong micromechanical bond. A special curing light is used to harden this bonding material. Once the first layer is cured, another layer is painted on and cured, and then another until the restoration has the necessary thickness. The dentist will then use a dental drill to shape the bonding material into the right form. Once the bonded tooth looks great and fits perfectly with your bite, it will receive a final polishing.
Caring for Bonded Teeth
Bonded teeth should be brushed and flossed daily, and professionally cleaned at the dental office at least twice a year, just the same as the rest of your teeth. It’s important to remember that bonded teeth can absorb stains from smoking, red wine, coffee, tea, and other colored liquids, just as natural teeth can. Also, while the composite material can darken, it cannot be lightened. If you’re thinking about having your teeth whitened, it should be done before your tooth is bonded so that a composite shade can be selected to match the lighter color of your whitened teeth. Finally, try not to bite your nails or engage in any other bad habits that could put excessive force on the bonding material and chip it. With proper care, a bonded tooth should stay beautiful for 3 to 10 years.
