What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding at Kingwood Dentistry is a popular dental procedure where material, either composite or an adhesive, is permanently secured to your teeth. You may be asking what kind of procedure involves securing material to the teeth? But you may be surprised to hear you have probably already had dental bonding at one time or another. Dental bonding is a procedure that is used in combination with other treatments, including a filling gaps between teeth, fixing a chipped or cracked tooth, or improving a tooth with discoloration.
When is Dental Bonding Used?
The dental bonding treatment is one of the quickest, most efficient, and lowest cost dental treatment procedures. Dental bonding is often used as a treatment for cosmetic issues. There are two dental bonding approaches. One of these, direct composite bonding, involves the application of a tooth-colored putty to the teeth. The composite used is shaped and polished to improve the appearance of teeth and the look of the overall smile. The tooth-colored composite is also used to fill or shrink the space between teeth and to change the shape of teeth. The other dental bonding approach involves attaching an adhesive to the teeth in order to attach another material, such as a veneer or crown.
Steps of the Dental Bonding Treatment
Regardless of which type of dental bonding a dentist is using, the overall steps of the approach are the same:
- Procedure preparation: A rubber dam is placed in the mouth to prepare the mouth for the bonding procedure. Another step of the preparation process is selecting the composite or the etchant adhesive to be used.
- Tooth preparation: Next, the surface of the tooth is prepared for the bonding. This is done with a liquid coating agent used to further ensure the bonding material adheres to the teeth.
- Bonding application: Next, the bonding is applied. For example, if the dentist is applying composite bonding, the composite, a putty material that can be molded, shaped, and sculpted to match the natural teeth is applied directly to the teeth by the dentist. How long this will take depends on the dentist. Although the process is usually quick, the dentist may take more time to get the shape they want. After the dentist is satisfied, a laser or an ultraviolet light is used to harden, or cure, the composite. The last step of the process is to polish the new tooth surface so that it matches the rest of the natural teeth perfectly.
In general, the entire dental bonding treatment takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour to complete. If more than one tooth needs to be treated, or the dental bonding is part of a large treatment plan, the dentist may suggest several visits for the treatment to be completed.
Post Dental Bonding Treatment
After a treatment, the dentist will provide post-treatment advice. The bonding is not immediately as strong as a natural tooth, and therefore you need to be careful chewing, eating, and flossing. With proper care, the dental bonding can last several years before any repair is needed. If you have direct composite bonding, the composite can be stained by tea, coffee, wine, or nicotine. These items should be avoided for at least a few days after the bonding procedure.
What is the Difference Between Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers?