Dental Bonding— Your Solution to Cracked, Broken, and Discolored Teeth
One in six Americans has some form of dental problem – including a cracked, broken, or discolored tooth. If you have these problems, you might be feeling embarrassed and self-conscious because of your damaged appearance.
When our teeth become damaged, it can be difficult to restore their original state. But, with innovative treatments like cosmetic dental bonding, the issues can be fixed more efficiently than before.
What is Cosmetic Dental Bonding?
Cosmetic dental bonding is usually used on teeth that have small chips or cracks in the enamel.
It is a non-invasive, safe procedure that uses a tooth-colored material to provide an aesthetically pleasing cosmetic solution.
The procedure requires polishing the tooth surface to create a smooth surface for bonding, using either a natural tooth color or by painting on your custom color.
You can get dental bonding near you to fix the following situations:
- When you want to whiten your teeth, but professional teeth whitening is not an option.
- You have small cracks and fractures on the teeth, that if left untreated can cause dental problems.
- You have irregularly shaped teeth or gaps in between
What is the Cosmetic Dental Bonding Procedure?
Dental bonding in Gillette, WY, is done in about 30 to 60 minutes. During the procedure, a plastic resin is applied to a tooth and then cured by ultraviolet light. The tooth is then filled with composite resin material. The material can either be made from dental stone or putty.
This procedure restores the function and esthetics of your smile while also protecting it from future damage from oral hygiene procedures.
Dental bonding is fast and pain-free— rarely does the dentist use local anesthesia. A cosmetic dentist near you can numb your gums if you have active decay or the damage is close to the nerves.
Dental bonding Vs. Dental Veneers
Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure that improves the appearance of teeth by filling gaps in enamel. Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain placed one on top of another to form a decorative front surface on teeth.
Dental bonding costs less than dental veneers, but it doesn’t provide the same level of aesthetic appeal as a veneer does.
Dental bonding is appropriate if you need to make minor repairs or fill gaps. However, if your tooth has thinning enamel or is severely damaged, then you’re better off looking into getting dental veneers or crowns.
The one downside of using the veneers is that your teeth need a little bit of trimming. This makes the process irreversible, meaning you will need these shells even if you change the treatment (the enamel is usually trimmed depending on the thickness of the veneers).
What are the Benefits of Dental Bonding?
One of the benefits of dental bonding is that it can be done in one visit. This makes it faster and less expensive than other types of cosmetic dentistry such as crowns, veneers, bridges, or implants. Furthermore, it also provides the same aesthetic appeal as any other type of cosmetic dentistry.
Also, the enamel is not trimmed out, as is the case with veneers and crowns.
What is the Downside of Dental Bonding?
The downside of dental bonding is that it will likely need to be replaced at a later date. Dental bonding can only last for about 2-3 years, and after that, you’ll need to seek other options. Also, the resin material can crack, chip, and discolor. That is why our dentist in 82716 uses dental bonding as a short treatment for minor dental problems.
How Can You Care for Bonded Teeth?
It is essential to care for your bonded teeth to maintain their appearance of the teeth. Apart from your standard dental hygiene practices, it is important to watch what you eat. Limit your intake of staining foods like coffee, wine, or soy. Also, avoid hard and chewy foods that may weaken the bonding material. Do not use your teeth as tools to open bottles or bite nails.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Mountain West Dental for more information about dental bonding procedures and what you can expect.