Answers To The Most Common Questions About Dental Bonding
One of the most common types of cosmetic dentist services is a dental procedure known as dental bonding, which is used to close small gaps or repair injured teeth. Dental bonding is an inexpensive as well as quick and virtually painless way to improve your smile. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions you may have about dental bonding.
What is Dental Bonding?
The dental bonding procedure consists of roughing up the surface of the injured tooth, followed by applying a conditioning liquid that helps with the adherence of the bonding material. A tooth-colored resin (the bonding material) is applied to the injured tooth, molded, and then smoothed to resemble the texture of the tooth.
Once the bonding agent has been applied, an ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin. After the material has been shaped, it is polished to match the sheen of surrounding teeth. Unlike some cosmetic dentist procedures that require more than one visit, the entire bonding process generally takes 30-60 minutes for each tooth.
What Can Dental Bonding Be Used For?
Dental bonding is generally best suited for small cosmetic dental changes and correcting teeth, such as front teeth with a low bite pressure. Some common uses of cosmetic dental bonding may include:
- Changing the shape of teeth
- Repairing cracked or chipped teeth
- Filling in a space or gap in teeth
- Making teeth appear longer
- A cosmetic alternative to Amalgam (silver) fillings
- Improving the appearance of discolored/stained teeth
What Are the Benefits of Dental Bonding?
There are several benefits of dental bonding, including the price, which is often covered by many dental insurance plans, especially if the procedure is used to fill a cavity or for structural purposes. One of the best benefits of dental bonding is that there is no anesthesia required for the procedure. Another great benefit of dental bonding is that the entire process can generally be completed in an hour or less. Dental bonding generally lasts several years as long as you practice good oral hygiene and care.
Are There Any Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?
One of the disadvantages of dental bonding is that the material used is so similar to the enamel on your natural teeth. Unfortunately, that means that it may become stained or discolored over time. The bonding material is also porous, so it will stain if you use tobacco products. The bonding material is strong, but it isn't as strong as veneers or crowns, so it may be prone to chipping. However, with proper care and maintenance and visiting your cosmetic dentist for routine exams, tooth bonding will generally last several years.
Although there isn't any special care required for teeth that have dental bonding, it is important that you have good oral hygiene practices. Since dental bonding material may stain, it is beneficial to limit your use of items that may cause staining such as red wine, tea, coffee and tobacco products. It is also recommended that you avoid chewing on hard foods, ice, and other hard items to reduce the risk of chipping. Talk to a dentist like those at George Kourakin to learn more.
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