Are you suffering because of a cracked tooth? Do you want to improve your smile? If any of the answer of any of the questions is true then you should better consider dental bonding.
What exactly is dental bonding?
The procedure is known by various names – some prefer calling it dental bonding while others prefer tooth bonding. Even some people refer to it as composite resin bonding. It is purely a cosmetic technique that improves the aesthetics of your smile. By no means it is a solution related to any structural or health issue of the teeth although the procedure can sort out few issues related to your teeth. The issues of the teeth or tooth that composite resin bonding can take care off include the following –
- Chipped or cracked tooth
- Gaps between the teeth (a condition called diastema)
- Crooked or misaligned teeth
- Discoloured or stained teeth
- In reality dentists rely on the procedure to cover up minor issues related to one’s smile as well as to even out the issues related to the shape, size and colour of the teeth
In dentistry the term is usually used to denote the use of adhesives in dental work. But the term ‘tooth bonding’, ‘composite resin bonding’ or ‘dental bonding’ has a completely different meaning. Any of these terms denotes changing (rather improving) the appearance of someone’s smile for better aesthetics or to cater to cosmetic needs. It is not improper neither incorrect to say, dentists rely on this particular procedure to bring about cosmetic improvements to one’s smile.
The procedure is normally focused on those few teeth in the front that are invariably exposed when you smile. The technique involved in the procedure is somewhat similar like that in treating minor fillings in the tooth. The material that is used is similar to putty and can be moulded easily to any shape of your choice. Then it is hardened using a special light and polished. As the end of this whole procedure, the substance closely resembles your natural tooth.
It is important for a dentist to colour match a composite resin to the natural colour of the teeth of a patient. Preparatory measures are taken at the surface of the teeth. It is followed by applying a large layer of adhesive material. Finally the resin is applied; the dentist brings it to a desired shape.
Shaping the resin material requires some amount of artistic taste and skills for a dentist. Once the dentist is happy and satisfied with his or her work, the material needs to be hardened. This is done by using a powerful UV light which quickly hardens the composite resin material. As finishing touches the rough edges are filed off and uneven spots are removed. As the last step, the resin is polished. All this effort is undertaken to ensure your bonded tooth or teeth resemble just like the other natural teeth in the mouth.
How long the procedure takes?
A skilled and experienced dentist usually takes anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour to perform this procedure on each tooth. Apart from preparing the tooth surface carrying out the adhesion, the procedure requires the shaping and the finishing must be done properly. Each of these steps is quite time consuming. Thus the treatment should rather not be carried out in haste.
How long does a tooth bonding last?
The life of a bonded tooth easily ranges between 5 and 10 years. However a few considerations have to be taken into account in this context. Different varieties of the composite material have varied life. The varieties that are more long lasting do not quite resemble the natural teeth. so, these are mostly applied to the chewing teeth or molars at the back of the mouth. For the front teeth dentists usually choose a resin that looks closer to your natural teeth but is obviously not that durable.
Proper care and maintenance tips to make sure your bonded tooth lasts longer
Now let us explore few tried and tested tips on proper care and maintenance of tooth bonding. You follow these tips and extend the life of your bonded tooth or teeth.
- Maintaining sound oral hygiene – tooth decay or caries can result in loosening of the adhesion that holds the composite resin to your tooth surface. With or without bonding, proper brushing and flossing are the best technique to properly care for your teeth and keep them healthy.
- Avoid hard foods – composite resin material is not as hard nor as long lasting as your natural teeth. Avoid eating hard food items that may result in chip or crack in your bonded tooth and degrade your dental work quicker.
- Beware of teeth grinding or bruxism – teeth grinding is a common dental issue but it can have disastrous effect on you bonded tooth or teeth. Try avoiding stress as much as possible and cut down on that last cup of coffee before going to sleep to avoid suffering from bruxism. You may even ask your dentist to diagnose you for the problem. Dentists can recognise the symptoms of teeth grinding. In that case the expert prescribes you a mouth guard that you wear to bed every night to protect the teeth – both bonded and natural – from harmful effects of the problem.
- Avoid whitening the teeth – just like your natural teeth, the bonded ones too are likely to pick up stains to become discoloured. But whitening treatments work miracles of your natural teeth that are discoloured whereas a bonded tooth or teeth never ever respond to such treatments.
- Break some old and nasty habits – bonded tooth or teeth give you the perfect reason to break some nasty and unhygienic habits. These include biting fingernails, chewing on pens, using the teeth as bottle-opener and others. Even biting on ice is harmful for the teeth – bonded or otherwise – and can lead to chips or cracks.
What is the cost of tooth bonding treatment?
The Chatfield Dental Braces is unquestionably one of the best clinics for composite bonding treatment in London. We offer a pretty reasonable price for this treatment. The cost of the composite bonding treatment at our practice starts from £155 per tooth.