How it works.
Bonding is often a viable option for repairing chipped, cracked, or disfigured front teeth and replacing silver amalgam on back teeth. The bonding material is applied to the tooth's surface, sculpted into shape, hardened with a cure light, and then polished into your new smile. When enhancing your front teeth, anesthesia is not usually needed, and your new smile can often be completed in one visit.
Bonding can improve the appearance of upper or lower teeth by filling in cavities or imperfections, chips, uneven surfaces, and gaps. Bonding may be a good way to change the size, shape, and position of your teeth. It is a lot less expensive than porcelain veneers, which can take years, and in some cases is just effective.
For slight rotations and small chips, may last five to seven years. When more correction is needed, porcelain veneers are a stronger, more permanent alternative.
Because bonding isn't as strong as natural front teeth, you may have to be careful when biting into hard foods. Opening packages and biting your nails can damage your natural teeth, but will annihilate bonding.
The Smile Stylist will help decide what is best for you. And remember that bonding almost always will have to be replaced eventually-so if you plan on whitening your teeth, do it first, so the bonding can be matched to the new color.
Taking care of them.
Bonded teeth should receive the same meticulous care as natural teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping, and professional preventative treatments are necessary to maintain proper oral health and appearance. To enhance the longevity and maintain the natural appearance of cosmetic bonding, you should avoid excessive consumption of stain-producing foods and beverages and the use of tobacco products.
Pros of bonding
- Fast-usually one visit
- Looks natural
- Very conservative
- Relatively less expensive than more durable cosmetic options
Cons of bonding
- Breaks and stains more easily than porcelain options
- Could end up with a mismatched smile if you bleach after bonding
Bonding is typically used in conjunction with contouring to add and take away. This process can make some minor or major improvements and is used when big changes aren't needed. The teeth are bleached first to your desired color, then the bonding is added to match that lighter color. See the before and after photos to see how bonding and contouring was used to close gaps and reverse the signs of aging.
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