The Benefits and Drawbacks of Cosmetic Dental Bonding
If you have broken, chipped, gapped teeth, or any other tooth deformity, cosmetic dental bonding can give you the perfect dental line. In cosmetic dental bonding, the dentist applies a composite resin with the color of your tooth to repair a damaged tooth /teeth. It often used for cosmetic purposes.
Compared to other dental procedures like crowns and veneers, bonding is a more relaxed fit and also cost-effective. This is because it requires just a single dental visit. The procedure is referred to as cosmetic dental bonding because the material blends with the tooth.
What is cosmetic dental bonding used for?
This option is considered for a number of purposes, including:
- Covering gaps between teeth
- Improving the physical appearance in discolored teeth
- Filling and repairing a chipped or cracked tooth
- Composite resins can be used to repair decayed teeth and filling cavities
- To lengthen short teeth
- Bonding can be used as an alternative cosmetic medium instead of amalgam fillings
- Protecting a part of a tooth’s root that’s been exposed due to receded gums.
How is tooth bonding done?
- Preparation – Usually, anesthesia is not needed for tooth bonding unless the procedure is to repair a tooth that has decayed. This is because drilling is required to modify the tooth’s shape, or if the damage is near a nerve. Your Peoria Emergency dentist chooses a color for the composite resin that will match the shade of your tooth.
- Bonding – The tooth surface is roughened to make the bonding material stick to your tooth. The composite resin undergoes molding and smoothening to give it the ideal shape. After hardening the bonding material with laser light, the dentist further trims and develops it by using more polish to match the rest of your tooth.
- Completion time – It takes 30 – 60 minutes for a dental bonding procedure on one tooth.
After completing the bonding procedure, the bonding material has a lifespan of three to ten years before needing replacement or touching up. How long it lasts, however, depends on the amount of bonding done and your overall oral habits.
Benefits of tooth Bonding
- Teeth bonding doesn’t require anesthesia unless it’s being done to fill a cavity
- It involves less enamel removal compared to veneers and dental crowns
- The procedure is easy to carry out and requires less time compared to crowns and veneers. It can be completed in a single dental visit
- It’s cost-effective – bonding is among the least expensive dental procedures there is.
Disadvantages
- The ultimate bonding material (resin) used is not as stain-resistant compared to crowns
- Resin is not durable as compared to other dental procedures. It can easily chip or break if subjected to extreme pressure.
What risks come about with cosmetic dental bonding?
It’s important to note that resin is weaker than the natural tooth. This means it’s more susceptible to breakage and chipping. This, however, doesn’t happen with veneers and dental crowns or filling.
Your teeth may also exhibit some discoloration because resin is not an effective stain resistant. We recommend avoiding taking tea, coffee, and cigarette smoke 48 hours after the procedure to minimize the chances of discoloration.
Since not many risks are involved with teeth bonding, it does not require any special attention. However, you need to observe proper dental hygiene habits. Avoid biting on hard food substances and regularly care for your teeth for the repair to last.
How do you care for your bonded tooth?
Just like any dental procedure, tooth bonding in dentistry requires special care. Listed below are some helpful self-care tips.
- Floss your teeth daily and brush them twice every day
- Keep off hard food such as raw vegetables and candy
- Avoid biting your fingernails
- Two days after the bonding procedure, don’t take tea, coffee, or tobacco. They contain chemicals that easily stain the resin.
- Don’t chew on pens and other plastics as they could chip the material.
If the bonding accidentally chips or breaks out, immediately contact your dentist for a repair. You should also alert your dentist of rough edges or any roughness on the bonded teeth, as well as a strange off felling on the tooth when biting down food.