Dental bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure that is non-invasive and can help improve the way your smile looks. Today, our Revelstoke dentists share some facts on how dental bonding could help restore your smile by repairing teeth that are discoloured or gapped.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a non-invasive, effective, and safe cosmetic dental procedure. Your dentist applies tooth-coloured composite resin to your teeth to create a natural-looking smile by shaping and polishing the composite resin to match the surrounding teeth.
This process is referred to as 'dental bonding' because the composite resin literally bonds to the tooth.
When You Will Need Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is most often used for cosmetic purposes – to improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped or discoloured teeth, to make teeth look longer, change the colour or shape of teeth, or to close gaps between teeth.
Bonding could also be used to cover exposed tooth roots due to receding gums or as an alternative to silver (amalgam) fillings.
The Dental Bonding Process & Procedure
When dentists conduct dental bonding treatments, they apply the composite resin to your tooth in layers. They then harden each layer with light.
After the last layer is hardened, the dentist shapes and polishes it to fit your tooth, resulting in a smooth, natural-looking tooth that complements the rest of your smile.
Length of the Bonding Procedure
Dental bonding usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete. Unlike veneers, which are custom-made in a dental lab and thus require more time, the bonding process can most often be completed in one visit.
Cost of Dental Bonding
Many patients that talk to dentists about dental bonding are worried about the costs of the treatment. Luckily, dental bonding is a fairly long-lasting and effective cosmetic treatment, and the cost of your procedure will depend on various factors, such as:
- Insurance coverage - how much of the procedure will your insurance cover? (May depend on whether your issue is primarily cosmetic or structural)
- Scope of work - location in your mouth where the procedure is taking place, and the size of the area being bonded
- Where you live - costs may vary depending on which city your dentist is in, and which dental practice completes the procedure
How Long the Bonding Lasts
The composite resin that dentists use for bonding generally lasts 4 to 8 years, and in some cases up to 10 years.
How long the effects of dental bonding last will depend on your individual case (where in your mouth it’s applied) and how it’s maintained (excellent oral hygiene and attending your regularly scheduled dental visits is key).
To make sure the effects of your treatment last as long as possible, we recommend avoiding food that is acidic or sugary, because they could cause wear on your teeth. While fruit may be good for your health, don't forget to brush and floss your teeth shortly after consuming them so plaque and bacteria don't have the opportunity to grow. Also refrain from chewing hard candy or ice, biting down too hard, or grinding your teeth, since all of these can chip the bonding material.
Your dentist can touch up the composite resin and re-bond it overtime if required.