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Tooth Bonding

 

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.

Before and After Tooth Bonding. 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.

Related Articles

Repairing Chipped Teeth - Dear Doctor Magazine

Repairing Chipped Teeth A composite restoration or “bonding” is an ideal material choice for a growing teenager. Composites can be made in a wide range of tooth colors allowing for near perfect color matching with existing teeth — in artistic hands they can be made to look very natural and lifelike... Read Article

Composite Resin - Dear Doctor Magazine

Artistic Repair of Front Teeth With Composite Resin Cosmetic dentistry is about creating invisible art — recreating teeth that look totally natural so that no one can tell the difference! It involves a detailed understanding of natural tooth composition and form, choosing the right composite resin to rebuild and restore lost tooth structure, and understanding light and color. Oh, and a dental artist who can put them all together... Read Article


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†FREE. ADA D0150/00210/0096. $318 full price. Offer does not include panoramic x-ray (ADA D0330/$190) which may be required. For new patients without insurance or a discount dental plan. Free Professional Take-Home Teeth Whitening. ADV – Free Whitening Special – Marketing 2020. $25 value. DREVO. $140 full price. Free Revolation Toothbrush. ADV – WD REVOLATION. Offer limited to one per customer, while supplies last. Must schedule and show for an appointment at Coast Dental & Orthodontics. *Minimum fee only. Fee may vary with complexity of case. ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY BE INCURRED FOR RELATED SERVICES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED IN INDIVIDUAL CASES. (FL PATIENTS ONLY - THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT.) The dentists and hygienists are employees or independent contractors of Coast Florida, P.A., (Adam Diasti, DDS, DN12490), Coast Dental of Georgia, P.C., (Adam Diasti, DDS, DN11634) or Coast Dental of Texas, PC (Adam Diasti, DDS, Lic. 32327). Coast Dental Services, LLC complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. © 2023 Coast Dental. All rights reserved.