Although composite bonding doesn’t last for as long as some other cosmetic solutions, if well taken care of, you can enjoy your dream smile for upwards of 5 years.
Composite bonding is the process of applying a material called dental composite or composite resin to the teeth to make them look better and more aesthetically pleasing.
Patients who come in for this procedure often feel their natural teeth are slightly crooked, mis-shaped or chipped. Bonding can be used to make teeth appear longer, change the shape or colour of a tooth or even close gaps between the teeth.
Composite bonding is different from dental veneers in that they fix smaller problems in just a few of the teeth or even just one tooth. Most dentists recommend bonding for small changes that don’t require covering the entire tooth.
One of the best things about bonding is that you can have it done in just one visit to our practice located just outside of Warrington, so you can enjoy your stunning new smile as soon as you leave the practice!
Before we begin the bonding procedure, we will use a shade chart to make sure the composite resin we choose is a perfect colour match for your natural teeth.
Once you’re happy with the colour, we will prepare your tooth for the procedure. We’ll then coat the tooth we’re treating with a light amount of conditioning liquid to help the resin bond with your enamel.
The next step is to apply the resin. We will mould and smooth the putty-like material until it is shaped exactly the way you want it, before shining a special ultra-violet light onto your tooth to set the resin.
When the resin has hardened, we will polish the tooth so that it matches the shine of your natural teeth.
This procedure is shorter than many other cosmetic procedures, lasting upwards from an hour. All that’s left to do then is enjoy your beautiful new smile!
Bonding is all about selecting the right patient for the procedure. Not every tooth is suitable and your dentist will need to assess your mouth fully to determine whether you are fit for the treatment or whether an alternative might be more appropriate. That aside, most people are suitable for composite bonding – especially if you have healthy natural teeth.
The Pros
The Cons
It’s a common misconception that you have to remove a lot of tooth tissue to make veneers.
This is not the case! As you can see in the example below, we have only done a tiny amount of tooth adjustment. The results can be seen in the second scan.
Our dentist’s aim is to help you get the smile you want in a way that fits your needs and budget. The best place to start when deciding on a cosmetic procedure like bonding or veneers is to have a conversation with one of our friendly, experienced dentists. A general rule of thumb is that bonding is often the best solution for small changes in an overall healthy mouth.
For patients who need bigger corrections and who are ready to invest in significant changes to their smile, a veneer may be the way to go. Your dentist is genuinely interested in the approach that’s best for you and will help you make the best decision with the most up-to-date information.
Although composite bonding doesn’t last for as long as some other cosmetic solutions, if well taken care of, you can enjoy your dream smile for upwards of 5 years.
Unlike other cosmetic procedures like dental veneers, composite bonding doesn’t require any irreversible preparations to be carried out on your natural teeth first. That means that if you ever change your mind, you can remove the composite bonding without any issues.
Even if your composite bonding stains or becomes eroded or chipped, the enamel of your tooth underneath will remain unharmed.
The process of getting composite bonding should be a pain-free one, as the work is all on the surface of the tooth. In some cases, where bonding is used to cover a cavity, it may be more uncomfortable, however, we offer a range of options to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible during your treatment.
As composite bonding material isn’t as strong as your natural teeth, it’s important that you avoid directly biting down on some hard foods that may cause you to damage your bonding. Foods such as apples, hard sweets, nuts and raw vegetables may cause your bonding to chip, so it’s better to use your unbonded teeth to bite into these.
