Learning The Dental Bonding Basics
Learning The Dental Bonding Basics
If you are embarrassed by your chipped, broken, or stained tooth, you need not to worry anymore. Dental bonding can restore them at a reasonable price. It can give you the repairs your teeth need at a relatively low cost and is sometimes covered by insurance. Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored material or a resin filling is applied to the tooth, molded into shape, hardened, and then polished. It is called bonding because the material bonds or adheres to the tooth. This procedure is ideal for minor cosmetic dentistry work like repairing a broken or chipped tooth or fixing small gaps between teeth. Many also choose dental bonding as a filling for small cavities because it blends with the color of the teeth unlike silver fillings.
Cracked or stained tooth, a gap between the teeth and visible silver fillings are some of the problems that can be addressed by dental bonding. Dental bonding makes it possible to reshape or re-contour teeth but unlike veneers and bleaching, it can’t whiten your entire teeth. Dental Bonding may not be used to large cavities but for small ones that are not used forcefully when eating, it can act as “white fillings”.
What Does Dental Bonding Involve?
First, a mild phosphoric acid is applied to the surface of your teeth. This scrapes and roughens the surface to help the bonding material stay put. The putty-like bonding material is then placed on the surface of the teeth and then formed and sculpted. With the use of a special light, the material is hardened and set. Lastly, it is smoothened by polishing and buffing the surface. This entire process is safe and painless.
The Pros and Cons
Dental bonding is cheaper than veneers but it also has disadvantages which include. But if you’re meaning to get improved esteem and look better when you smile, the pros outweigh the cons. For one, the costs for the procedure ranges from 0 to 0 per tooth but some dental insurance plans cover most of the cost of the procedure if it is for a substantial reason like filling a cavity. Dental bonding normally takes only one office visit, so it doesn’t take long at all. The entire process can 30 to 60 minutes for every tooth. Plus, there’s general ease when you undergo the procedure. There is no need for anaesthesia unless bonding is being used to fill a cavity. Dental bonding also requires lesser amount of enamel removal than veneers and crowns.
On the other hand, there are understandable downsides to dental bonding as well. The bonding material can be prone to discoloration. As time goes by, dental bonding, unlike veneers and crowns, can become stained. The material used in in bonding is susceptible to staining from substances like cigarettes, coffee, tea, and wine so there is an obvious difference between the teeth that are bonded and ones with no bonding. 24 to 48 hours right after bonding, make sure you don’t smoke, or drink coffee, tea and wine. Choose a different cosmetic dentistry treatment if you smoke and are not willing to quit the habit. The bonding material is porous so the smoke from the cigarette will stain them easily, and it’s also less durable. Furthermore, since the material used in dental bonding isn’t as strong and resilient as porcelain veneers and crowns, they chip easily and don’t last as long. Despite this, you can you’re your bonding last up to three to seven years with proper care.
Keeping Watch Of Your Teeth After Dental Bonding
Because of its vulnerability to staining and chipping compared to other cosmetic dentals procedures, it is important that your bonded teeth are specially cared for to keep it looking natural. Follow the following tips to keep your dental bonding in excellent condition. Avoid coffee, tea, and red wine which cause staining. If you’re a smoker, best to quit now. This will not only prevent discoloration but also reduce your risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer. Also, get rid of your nasty habit of biting your nails or chewing ice, tip of pens, and other hard objects. Dental bonding isn’t always necessary in every circumstance, but it can be a convenient and less costly way to enhance your smile and feeling confident.
