Dental Bonding

Dentists are always getting better at procedures that can restore your smile to its former glory. One of the simplest and most affordable options is dental bonding, which can turn your crooked teeth into straight ones for a stunning effect.

Dental bonding is a tooth-colored material that can be used to cover minor tooth issues, such as chips, stains, and even gaps. The strength of composite resins comes from a mixture of plastic and glass. The composite actually bonds to the tooth, strengthening it and making it translucent

Composite resins come in a variety of tooth shades to give you a tooth fix that is indistinguishable from real teeth. A well-crafted dental bonding procedure may appear indistinguishable from the neighboring teeth. Bonding is often recommended as an alternative to veneers or crowns because it’s less invasive than those procedures and has a shorter healing time. It’s also less expensive than some other types of cosmetic dentistry procedures.

The Bonding Process

Tooth bonding usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, if you only need one visit then that time can be made as short as possible. The bonding process begins with a dental exam and cleaning to ensure that your teeth are healthy enough for the procedure. The color and shade of the resin material that will be used to fill the tooth will be determined during this visit.

Next, your dentist will apply a special composite material to the tooth’s surface and then sculpt it into place, creating an aesthetic finish. After the composite material has been applied, your dentist will shape and smooth it until it’s ready for placement. Once the piece of material is completely inserted into the gap, you’ll be given a light bite block to hold onto during the bonding process. This bite block ensures that your jaw remains in position while your dentist works on your teeth.

Your dentist will mix up another batch of composite material and use this as an adhesive for cementing the restoration in place. Once everything is set up correctly, your dentist will remove any excess material with a special tool before polishing off any rough edges with an abrasive pad. Finally, they’ll take an ultraviolet light over the entire surface of your tooth to ensure that all traces of leftover adhesive have been removed from sight (as well as from inside).

Caring for Bonded Teeth

Cleaning your bonded teeth isn’t any different than cleaning the rest of your natural teeth. You should brush them and floss them on a daily basis as well as getting them professionally cleaned twice per year.

One thing to be aware of when caring for your bonded tooth is that the resin can absorb stains. This is just as true for natural teeth. If possible, avoid smoking and drinking both coffee and tea. The only way to lighten a tooth is to whiten it beforehand. If you decide to whiten your teeth, it should be done before the composite is put on, so that the shade can be matched to the white color. Biting your nails or chewing on pens can cause the bonding material to chip. Make sure you’re taking care of it by brushing and flossing every day. This will keep your smile looking good for 3-10 years.

Make an appointment with Sun City Dental El Paso to discuss dental bonding with our dentist.