Dental bonding is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available to correct and reshape your smile. In the event you accidentally chip your tooth or want to correct a small gap or crack in your teeth, dental bonding can help to heal and make your smile look new and improved without other complicated or lengthy cosmetic dental procedures.
If you’re ready to improve the appearance of your teeth, but you’re not sure whether dental bonding is right for you, read on to discover more about the tooth bonding process and how it can transform your smile.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Tooth bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses natural-looking, durable resin to reshape and repair the following dental imperfections:
- Chips.
- Cracks.
- Breaks.
- Decay.
- Discoloration.
- Gaps.
- Misalignment.
How Does It Work?
Your dentist uses tooth-colored materials that are applied to one or more of your teeth to correct minor to moderate dental imperfections. This material is placed on your existing tooth and is shaped and colored to the desired hue to blend in naturally with the rest of your smile.
At your dental bonding appointment, your dentist will follow a series of steps:
- Shade Selection | Your dental team begins by color-matching the hue of the resin to your existing teeth for the most natural application.
- Tooth Preparation | The dentist prepares your tooth for the bonding material by gently roughing up the surface of your enamel and following with a strong, tooth-safe adhesive.
- Bonding Application | The putty-like material is then applied to your tooth and molded to the desired shape according to your smile goals.
- Curing and Polishing | A special light is used to harden the material, which is then smoothed and polished to match the sheen of the surrounding teeth.
Is Dental Bonding Painful?
Because your natural tooth structure is left intact, dental bonding is considered a painless procedure. In fact, the bonding process does not require any anesthetic, as no steps in the process place strain on the nerves or sensitive areas of your teeth, gums, or mouth. Some patients request or require a minor local anesthetic, especially in patients with increased tooth sensitivity, but this is not necessary for the vast majority of people who receive dental bonding.
Is It Expensive?
Dental bonding is ideal for patients who want smile makeover to fix cosmetic imperfections on a more conservative budget. Other cosmetic dental procedures, including porcelain veneers or dental crowns, require your dentist to perform more preparation to ready your teeth for the procedure, and these procedures must be completed over the course of several appointments.
Teeth bonding, on the other hand, can be completed in one appointment, most of the time in less than an hour from start to finish. Because of this, dental bonding is a cost-effective and transformative cosmetic treatment that can revamp your smile without other expensive interventions or procedures.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Bonding?
You may be an ideal candidate for dental bonding if your teeth are healthy and in good condition. Dental bonding is suitable for chipped, cracked, discolored, and misaligned teeth so long as they boast strong, healthy roots and mostly intact enamel. Bonding is ideal for almost all patients, provided their smiles are free from significant dental health concerns.
Patch Up Your Smile With Dental Bonding
If you are wondering if you’re a good candidate for teeth bonding procedures, the exceptional dental team at West Lakes Dentistry can help. Contact our practice today to learn more about dental bonding and schedule to a consultation to discover how this procedure can work for you and your smile.