You thought it would be a great idea to head out and play ultimate frisbee. After all, fresh air and exercise are both good for you, right?<\/span><\/p>\n
And it was a great idea \u2013\u00a0until you weren\u2019t paying attention and got slammed in the face by another player. Now you have a chipped tooth and are wondering what to do about it. When you visit your dentist, they\u2019ll likely recommend tooth bonding. Let\u2019s discuss.<\/span><\/p>\n
What is tooth bonding?<\/span><\/h2>\nTooth bonding, also known as composite bonding, is a relatively simple procedure that can be used for a variety of reasons. It consists of adding a tooth-colored composite resin material to your tooth and shaping it to look like a natural tooth.<\/span><\/p>\n
The procedure can be used to fill small gaps between teeth, repair chips or cracks, or enlarge small teeth. You can even have a thin layer placed over the front of a tooth to hide its discoloration. This option is less durable than porcelain veneers and more prone to staining, but is also significantly cheaper, making it more financially accessible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
To perform the procedure, your dentist will first compare the color of your natural teeth to a shade guide to select a color that perfectly matches. They will then apply a composite resin in that shade to the damaged tooth or teeth using a powerful bonding agent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
They will work the resin to create the desired shape, then harden it with an ultraviolet light. After the resin has hardened, they can still shape it a bit and make any final adjustments to leave you with a \u201cfalse tooth\u201d so natural looking no one will ever suspect it isn\u2019t real.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Bonded teeth are generally only for cosmetic purposes and bonding is usually performed only on the front teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n
Dental bonding before and after<\/span><\/h2>\nDental bonding can have a significant impact on the way your teeth look. The procedure is relatively quick and totally painless and the results are well worth it. For bigger chips, bonding can be a great solution to re-perfecting your smile. Sometimes smaller chips don’t have enough surface area to bond to, so it could fall off more easily. Ask your dentist<\/a> for your best options.<\/span><\/p>\n
Source: Furumoto Dentistry<\/a><\/p>\n
Why get tooth bonding?<\/span><\/h2>\nBonding is a cost-effective and efficient way to remedy a number of cosmetic dental issues. It can be used to build up teeth that have been damaged by an impact or enlarge a tooth that never grew in all the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
If you have small gaps between two or more teeth, bonding can be used to build up the teeth on either side and eliminate that odd gap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Other procedures, such as veneers or dental crowns may also be used for certain situations. However, dental bonding is less expensive and less involved. Unless you\u2019re also having a cavity filled, it usually doesn\u2019t even require anesthesia to perform the procedure. For one tooth, your visit should only last about an hour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Does bonding ruin your teeth?<\/span><\/h2>\nAnother handy aspect of bonding is that it does not ruin your healthy tooth underneath. Your dentist will roughen the tooth up slightly to ensure that the bonding material can stick well. Other than that, your original tooth will be left alone and intact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
This is not the case with other procedures, like veneers, in which the dentist grinds down the front of your tooth to make space for the veneer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Over time, your tooth may become dependent on the resin as a protective shell and if the bonding is removed for whatever reason, the tooth enamel can be more vulnerable. However, the procedure itself does no damage to the tooth and can be touched up as often as necessary to maintain a gorgeous smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
How long does tooth bonding last?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe materials used are not as sturdy as your natural teeth. The composite resin is also more likely to stain, particularly if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee or dark-colored soda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
You can help your tooth bonding last longer by avoiding activities like chewing on ice, biting down on hard food or candies, or anything else that puts more stress on the resin. Keeping up with your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly can also help avoid problems with staining.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
As a general rule of thumb, bonding can last about 5-10 years \u2013\u00a0perhaps a little more with proper care.<\/span><\/p>\n
How to prepare for tooth bonding<\/span><\/h2>\nTooth bonding is a fairly straightforward procedure and doesn\u2019t require any special preparation. Woo hoo!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t
Dental bonding can have a significant impact on the way your teeth look. The procedure is relatively quick and totally painless and the results are well worth it. For bigger chips, bonding can be a great solution to re-perfecting your smile. Sometimes smaller chips don’t have enough surface area to bond to, so it could fall off more easily. Ask your dentist<\/a> for your best options.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Tooth](\"https:\/\/blog-2020.opencare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/tooth-bonding-before-and-after-239x300.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\nSource: Furumoto Dentistry<\/a><\/p>\n
Why get tooth bonding?<\/span><\/h2>\nBonding is a cost-effective and efficient way to remedy a number of cosmetic dental issues. It can be used to build up teeth that have been damaged by an impact or enlarge a tooth that never grew in all the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
If you have small gaps between two or more teeth, bonding can be used to build up the teeth on either side and eliminate that odd gap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Other procedures, such as veneers or dental crowns may also be used for certain situations. However, dental bonding is less expensive and less involved. Unless you\u2019re also having a cavity filled, it usually doesn\u2019t even require anesthesia to perform the procedure. For one tooth, your visit should only last about an hour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Does bonding ruin your teeth?<\/span><\/h2>\nAnother handy aspect of bonding is that it does not ruin your healthy tooth underneath. Your dentist will roughen the tooth up slightly to ensure that the bonding material can stick well. Other than that, your original tooth will be left alone and intact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
This is not the case with other procedures, like veneers, in which the dentist grinds down the front of your tooth to make space for the veneer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Over time, your tooth may become dependent on the resin as a protective shell and if the bonding is removed for whatever reason, the tooth enamel can be more vulnerable. However, the procedure itself does no damage to the tooth and can be touched up as often as necessary to maintain a gorgeous smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
How long does tooth bonding last?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe materials used are not as sturdy as your natural teeth. The composite resin is also more likely to stain, particularly if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee or dark-colored soda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
You can help your tooth bonding last longer by avoiding activities like chewing on ice, biting down on hard food or candies, or anything else that puts more stress on the resin. Keeping up with your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly can also help avoid problems with staining.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
As a general rule of thumb, bonding can last about 5-10 years \u2013\u00a0perhaps a little more with proper care.<\/span><\/p>\n
How to prepare for tooth bonding<\/span><\/h2>\nTooth bonding is a fairly straightforward procedure and doesn\u2019t require any special preparation. Woo hoo!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t
Another handy aspect of bonding is that it does not ruin your healthy tooth underneath. Your dentist will roughen the tooth up slightly to ensure that the bonding material can stick well. Other than that, your original tooth will be left alone and intact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
This is not the case with other procedures, like veneers, in which the dentist grinds down the front of your tooth to make space for the veneer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Over time, your tooth may become dependent on the resin as a protective shell and if the bonding is removed for whatever reason, the tooth enamel can be more vulnerable. However, the procedure itself does no damage to the tooth and can be touched up as often as necessary to maintain a gorgeous smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
How long does tooth bonding last?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe materials used are not as sturdy as your natural teeth. The composite resin is also more likely to stain, particularly if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee or dark-colored soda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
You can help your tooth bonding last longer by avoiding activities like chewing on ice, biting down on hard food or candies, or anything else that puts more stress on the resin. Keeping up with your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly can also help avoid problems with staining.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
As a general rule of thumb, bonding can last about 5-10 years \u2013\u00a0perhaps a little more with proper care.<\/span><\/p>\n
How to prepare for tooth bonding<\/span><\/h2>\nTooth bonding is a fairly straightforward procedure and doesn\u2019t require any special preparation. Woo hoo!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t
Tooth bonding is a fairly straightforward procedure and doesn\u2019t require any special preparation. Woo hoo!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t