Stains, chips, cracks, and breaks can make your smile look less than perfect. Small gaps can also lessen the impact of your smile. Dental bonding can hide those flaws and make your smile look amazing again!
Endicott Dental uses several cosmetic dentistry methods to repair smiles, including dental bonding (also called cosmetic bonding or composite bonding). We can make your smile look bright and healthy again!
What Is Dental Bonding?
Cosmetic dental bonding uses a special composite material to coat teeth to fill in gaps, close cracks, and cover discolored teeth. This composite resin can repair minor chips, cracks, or breaks and save your natural teeth. It can also reshape the tooth and close tiny gaps between teeth.
The resin in this cosmetic bonding matches the color of a natural tooth. Dr. Endicott applies the resin so that the tooth looks flawless and complete. He then shapes the tooth so there are no gaps. He then uses a special UV light to harden the resin and adhere it to the tooth.
The result of dental bonding before and after is a tooth that looks like the other surrounding teeth in your mouth. The chip, crack, or stain is no longer visible.
Dental Bonding Procedure
The procedure can be done over one visit, depending on whether you want one or several teeth fixed. It makes dental bonding after braces or injury a popular option.
Dr. Endicott starts by matching the composite resin to your natural tooth color. He may etch the enamel of your tooth slightly to allow the resin to hold more strongly to the surface of your tooth. He then applies an adhesive for the composite resin.
Dr. Endicott will apply the resin almost like painting a fingernail. Once the resin is applied, he shapes the resin to match the rest of the tooth and uses a special light to dry and harden the resin. Then, he polishes the tooth so it looks like the others.
The process takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.
How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?
Dental bonding has several advantages. One is the length of time a dental bond lasts. Dental bonding can last up to 10 years, depending on how well you care for it.
The procedure can be done in one visit, compared to several for porcelain veneers or crowns. Patients can resume their normal routines right after the procedure.
Dental bonding for gaps or enamel loss, cracks, stains, or chips works great if the rest of the tooth is healthy. A veneer or crown would be better for those with significant breaks or tooth decay.
How Much Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding tends to be less expensive than porcelain veneers or crowns. It costs around $100-$600 on average. That’s far lower than veneers or crowns, which can run upwards of $1,000 per tooth.
Cosmetic bonding may only need a touchup every few years if cared for properly, and it will protect the tooth. Untreated cracks, chips, or breaks in your enamel can expose the living interior of the tooth to bacteria. That can lead to infection and eventually could cause tooth loss.
Does Dental Bonding Hurt?
This procedure doesn’t require removing the enamel as with porcelain veneers, so it doesn’t hurt. No anesthesia is needed unless the tooth already has nerve damage. Then, a local anesthetic might be used.
Your teeth might be sensitive for the first couple of days, but that should fade quickly. You can use over-the-counter painkillers according to their directions to ease any discomfort.
Caring for Your Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is strong and durable but isn’t as strong as your enamel — few things are. That means something that could damage your enamel will also damage your resin. The better you care for your bonding and oral health, the longer the resin will last.
Don’t chew on hard objects, including pens, ice, or hard candy. Avoid smoking, which can stain your dental bonding over time. Avoid foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, or brush them immediately after consuming them.
Be sure you are brushing your teeth and flossing daily, and visit your dentist for regular, semi-annual checkups.
If you want to whiten your teeth, we recommend you do teeth whitening before bonding. The resin won’t react to the whitening agent, so the tooth will be a different color. If you whiten your teeth after dental bonding, it could stand out.
Benefits of Dental Bonding
Dental bonding has several advantages as a way to repair your teeth.
- Less tooth damage. Dental bonding requires only slight scraping of the enamel rather than significant removal, as with veneers or crowns.
- Great coverage. Composite bonding covers all kinds of dental flaws, from chips and cracks to stains and gaps.
- Less expensive. Tooth bonding is less expensive than veneers or crowns. It’s also less expensive to touch up or replace further down the road.
- Fast application. Unlike dental veneers or crowns, dental bonding can be completed in one office visit and only takes about 30-60 minutes per tooth.
- Tooth protection. Cosmetic bonding can protect the tooth from further damage.
- Painless procedure. Dental bonding doesn’t involve touching the nerves of the tooth, so there is little to no discomfort.
Tooth appearance. The bonding material can reshape your tooth to close small gaps and make it look like your other teeth.
Dental Bonding in Broken Arrow, OK
Dental bonding is a great way to hide the minor flaws of your teeth. It can reshape worn teeth, close small gaps, and do it all with minimal discomfort. The result is a flawless smile that will last you for years with the proper care.
Are you ready for dental bonding in Broken Arrow, OK? Endicott Dental offers this and several other cosmetic dental procedures. Schedule an appointment with us to get started.
