Dental bonding is a technique that dentists use to address chips, cracks, discolorations, gaps, and gum recession. The dentist applies a tooth-colored composite resin to the teeth where the teeth have been prepared with a drill and a solution. Once the resin is in the preferred location and shape, then the dentist will use an ultraviolet light or laser to harden it in its permanent location. Depending on the location in your mouth and the amount of preparation your teeth need for the dental bonding, the dentist may suggest using a local anesthetic to ensure you are comfortable for the procedure. After the resin is set in place, the dentist may need to make minor adjustments to ensure your bite is aligned.
The dentist will polish the resin and your dental bonding process is complete. You will leave the office with a new smile and maybe even more confidence to share the changes with the world.
It may be time to talk to the dentist about how you may benefit from dental bonding if:
You do not need complete orthodontic treatment but you are looking to make minor changes to the appearance of your teeth.
You have chips or cracks in your teeth that do not require more invasive repairs like dental crowns.
You have damage from decay or injuries.
You have discoloration that can’t be addressed with whitening treatments.
You grind your teeth or suffer from bruxism.
You want to close gaps between teeth.
You want to change the shape of your teeth.
You have a tooth root exposed and want to address it with a tooth-colored material.
If your dental bonding procedure is addressing a cosmetic issue, your insurance policy may not cover the procedure. Dentists do use dental bonding to improve oral health and to prevent further damage, so be sure to talk to the dentist about your case and the costs associated with it. Taking time to talk to your insurance company about your coverage can help you prepare for any impact on your budget.
Your dental bonding results will last longer if you take the care to practice good at home oral care and you avoid behaviors that can damage your dental bonding. After the composite resin is hardened in place, it has been shown to last anywhere from three to ten years on average based on research from the Cleveland Clinic. Once the dentist determines that the bonding material has worn away, you will need to either replace it or take different steps to protect the areas that are no longer covered by the resin.
Your oral care routine does not need any additional steps to care for the dental bonding treated areas, but you do need to maintain your brushing, flossing and professional cleaning to ensure that your treated teeth and natural teeth remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
You may want to consider changing some of your habits to better care for your teeth with dental bonding.
Chewing your fingernails and other hard non-food items can cause your dental bonding to wear down more quickly. Crunching on ice and smoking are high on the list of practices to quit for improving your overall oral health as well as ensuring a long lifespan of your dental bonding. To ensure that the dental bonding areas don’t discolor, try to limit the foods and beverages that stain.
