Family and    Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental Bonding
 

Dental bonding is used for many reasons, including restoration of chipped, broken or decayed teeth, to reshape or whiten your smile, or to fill in gaps between the teeth. Bonding can also be used to attach bridges, and orthodontic appliances and fillings onto the teeth.

First, a soft composite resin filling is first scooped onto the teeth. The dentist will sculpt, and shape the composite filling. Next, a high intensity light is applied to the resin, which hardens the material. Finally, the dentist polishes the surface to obtain natural looking appearance that blends with the tooth.

For What Conditions Is Dental Bonding Considered?

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:
To repair decayed teeth (composite resins for cavities)
To repair chipped or cracked teeth
To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
To close spaces between teeth
To make teeth look longer
To change the shape of teeth
As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
To protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede

by appointment only

What's the Procedure for Having a Tooth Bonded?

Preparation

Little advance preparation is needed for dental bonding. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Our doctor will use a shade guide to select a composite resin color that will closely match the color of your tooth.

The bonding process

Next, the surface of the tooth will be roughened and a conditioning liquid applied. These procedures help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored, putty-like resin is then applied, molded, and smoothed to the desired shape. An ultraviolet light or laser is then used to harden the material. After the material is hardened, our doctor will further trim and shape it, and polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.

Time-to-completion

Dental bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?

Advantages: Dental bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are customized tooth coverings that must be manufactured in a lab, bonding usually can be done in one office visit unless several teeth are involved. Another advantage, compared with veneers and crowns, is that the least amount of tooth enamel is removed. Also, unless dental bonding is being performed to fill a cavity, anesthesia is usually not required.

Disadvantages: Although the material used in dental bonding is somewhat stain resistant, it does not resist stains as well as crowns. Another disadvantage is that the bonding materials do not last as long nor are as strong as other restorative procedures, such as crowns, veneers, or fillings. Additionally, bonding materials can chip and break off the tooth.

Because of some of the limitations of dental bonding, some dentists view it as best suited for small cosmetic changes, for temporary correction of cosmetic defects, and for correction of teeth in areas of very low bite pressure (for example, front teeth). Consult Dr. Eva Goriee about the best cosmetic approach for your particular problem.

How Long Does Bonding Material Last?

The lifespan of bonding materials for the teeth depends on how much bonding was done and your oral habits. Typically, however, bonding material lasts from three years up to about 10 years before needing to be touched up or replaced.

Smile Shapers Dentist Office for Family Dentistry and Cosmetic Dental Services is located at the Forum at Gateways Center, on the Southwest Corner of Mound Road and Hall Road (M-59) in Sterling Hts., Michigan. Serving Rochester and Rochester Hills, Troy, Utica, Shelby Twp., Sterling Heights MI., and all other surrounding Oakland & Macomb County communities in Metropolitan Detroit's northern suburbs.