Cosmetic Bonding:
Create Instant Smiles through Modern Dentistry
Composite tooth bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that can work wonders for your smile. Using materials that match the shade, translucency and texture of your teeth, gaps can be closed, spots, chips, and discolorations can be eliminated. Your self-confidence can be enhanced through the improved appearance of your smile. It's also great for an instant repair of a broken front tooth.
In detail: Teeth-bonding is usually a one-visit procedure. The tooth is prepared by lightly roughening the area to be repaired, which usually doesn't require anesthetic. Then the surface of the tooth is etched with a gel, and a treatment of bonding primers and resins is applied to the tooth. Then the composite is applied. Dental composites are materials made of acrylic resins.
How long bonding lasts depends on many factors that are unique to the individual. Many people will go for ten or fifteen years and have the bonding look as good as the day it was put in. Some people will get staining on the margins of the bonding after one or two years and will need some touch-up work. If you take care of it well, it would be unusual to ever have to replace it, but some touch-up work would be normal after three to five years.
When veneering or re-shaping is done, it is common to have some areas of sensitivity on the teeth that are treated. This sensitivity may persist for a number of weeks, but should gradually diminish. If you feel that you are experiencing unusual sensitivity, please contact the office for help in alleviating it.
Taking care of the bonding
Maintain the teeth by brushing and flossing faithfully. Avoid sweets or starchy foods between meals. Bonding holds up much better when it is clean.
If you have extensive bonding work, we recommend frequent professional maintenance. Having your teeth cleaned two to four times per year by a hygienist skilled in bonding maintenance can help protect your bonding and make it look better and last longer.
Harsh toothpastes will dull the shine on bonding and make it more susceptible to stain.
When bonding is done on the biting edges of the front teeth, it is the most susceptible to breaking. Be careful not to subject it to unnecessary stresses. Carrots, popcorn, and other hard foods should be bitten off to the side, away from areas that have been bonded. Never bite fingernails, pins, or other hard objects with bonded teeth.
Do not let your bonded teeth be cleaned with pumice-containing prophylaxis pastes, ultrasonic cleaning devices, or air-polishing instruments. These will damage the surface of the bonding and make it more susceptible to stain. There are special polishing pastes and techniques for bonded teeth that not all hygienists or dentists are aware of.
Report to the office if you develop any areas that snag floss or feel rough. Areas like this can be smoothed easily if they are caught early.Alcoholic beverages can cause the bonding to deteriorate prematurely. Also, smoking and frequent drinking of coffee or tea tend to stain both your teeth and the bonding.