Dental bonding (cosmetic bonding, resin bonding) is one way to make aesthetic changes to the shape or colour of teeth. Coloured fillings have come a long way and can now be used to help smaller restorations in the front teeth. Cosmetic composites use several shades and hues to replicate the colour of natural teeth and allow a more conservative treatment for closing small gaps, fixing small chips, and hiding erosion spots.
Dental bonding involves applying a thin, tooth-coloured layer of composite resin material (white filling) to the surface of the tooth. The resin is designed to help change the tooth’s appearance in shape and/or colour.
First, a composite resin colour is selected. With many shades available, Dr. Pasha selects a colour that closely matches the colour of your tooth.
The surface of the tooth is then cleaned and conditioned with a mild acidic solution to make the tooth more receptive to the bonding material.
A small amount of the selected resin is applied to the tooth in layers. A bright beam of light locks the resins onto the tooth surface. After the last coat has hardened, Dr. Pasha hand sculpts the bonded material to mimic the texture and contour of the patient’s natural teeth. The bonding material is then polished to help match the sheen of the rest of the tooth’s surface.
Typical dental bonding is completed in one appointment. In more complex cases more than one appointment may be necessary.
Dental bonding requires minimal preparation to achieve great results. It is one of Dr. Pasha’s many tools for treating patients’ aesthetic challenges.
Dental bonding is good for patients who desire conservative changes to their teeth, but it will not solve all restorative dental challenges. Where a large portion of the tooth surface is damaged, a veneer or a crown may be a better solution. Additionally, if only a tooth colour change is needed, bleaching or teeth whitening may be a better alternative.
Dental bonding is a potential solution for patients whose teeth are:
· broken or chipped
· discoloured or stained
· malformed or crooked
· worn or abraded
· cracked or pitted
· widely spaced or uneven
Bonding can also restore cavities in front and back teeth, replace old or unattractive dark-coloured fillings, repair root abrasions, and help prevent cavities and root sensitivity.
At Wellington Aurora Dental, dental bonding is sometimes used as a transitional solution in order to complete more extensive changes to the shape and function of teeth. This transitional phase may take weeks or months depending on the case. In this time the patient can “test drive” their new smile.
Dental bonding can be extremely durable if maintained properly. Dental appointments to smooth and remove stains and/or addition of small pieces of the bonded material that may have chipped away from the tooth over time are sometimes necessary.
The condition of the mouth after the procedure in terms of regular oral hygiene and habits will play a role in the lifespan of a dental bonding treatment. In some patients, bonded teeth have the potential to inflict chronic gum irritation and can occasionally collect decay around the bonding materials on the tooth.
Additionally, bonded teeth are more susceptible to stains than natural teeth. Smoking, drinking tea or coffee, and even eating dark berries may cause discolouration. Currently, porcelain veneers provide better long term colour stability than dental bonding.
