What is Teeth Bonding?
As the term implies, teeth bonding is the process of bonding tooth-colored resin to the teeth to mask imperfections. In addition to providing cosmetic relief, teeth bonding can be used to fill cavities. Once the resin has been bonded to the tooth, it is essentially permanent. That does not mean that you’ll never have to have it touched up or replaced. It just means that it is very unlikely to fall off or break away.
When is Teeth Bonding Used?
People turn to teeth bonding for a variety of reasons. A few of the most common reasons include:
- To fill in a small gap between two teeth.
- To repair decayed teeth by filling a cavity with tooth-colored resin.
- To change the shape of a tooth.
Teeth Bonding
- To repair chips or cracks in teeth.
- To cover up discoloration.
- To protect the root of a tooth after it’s been exposed by receding gums.
- To make a tooth look larger than it is, which is usually done to make it match the other teeth.
How Teeth Bonding Works?
The process of teeth bonding is simple and fast:
Local anesthesia is not usually necessary. If a cavity is being filled, it may be used. Otherwise, the dentist probably won’t bother with it.
1- The dentist will examine the area where the resin will be applied to determine the appropriate shade. Luckily, there are many shades available, so it’s easy to closely match the appearance of the surrounding teeth.
2- The next step is to prepare the tooth for the bonding material and resin. After roughening the surface of the tooth a little, the dentist will apply a conditioning liquid that will help the bonding material work better.
3- Tooth-colored resin will be applied to the affected area. The dentist will carefully mold it and smooth it to ensure that it look like your other tooth. The goal is to make it look as natural as possible.
4- Once the dentist is satisfied about the appearance of the bonding material, a special light will be used to cure it or harden it. This is when the real teeth bonding happens, and it usually only takes a minute or two.
5- After the resin is successfully bonded to the underlying tooth, the dentist will go back over it to ensure that it look natural. Some trimming or shaping may be done to make it look right. In some cases, it may be all set immediately after it is cured.
In most cases, teeth bonding takes between 30 and 60 minutes per tooth. It all depends on the nature of the underlying problem and various other factors. A skilled dentist will take as much time as needed to ensure that your teeth look flawless.