Complete Your Smile
Do you lack the confidence to flash your pearly whites because of an annoying little chip on your front tooth? Details like this can be fixed with dental bonding. Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure that consists of the application of tooth-colored composite resin to blend in and repair chipped, fractured, discolored, or decayed teeth. The process is targeted to fix problems similar to those repaired by veneers or crowns, but it’s faster and more convenient, since it can be done in a single visit.
When Is Dental Bonding Used?
Bonding is mostly used for cosmetic purposes like improving the appearance of teeth, closing spaces between them, or adjusting their shape to fix little misalignments. Dental bonding can also be used to protect and cover portions of roots that have been exposed due to receding gums. Imperfections like cracked, chipped, or slightly uneven teeth can be fixed by using dental bonding to “fill out” the teeth and make them all the same length or shape.
The Process
There’s no preparation needed for bonding. Anesthesia or numbing agents are usually not necessary, unless the bonding is used as filling for a decayed tooth. It typically takes 60 minutes to complete the procedure, but it may run longer depending on each individual case. The stages of the procedure are:
- First the dentist uses a shade guide to find a color that matches closely with the patient’s natural tooth.
- The next step is to roughen up the surface of the tooth with a conditioning liquid. This will make it easier for the bonding agent to stick to the tooth.
- After this, the composite resin is applied over the liquid to be molded and shaped accordingly.
- The final step is to harden the material with a UV light.
In some cases, it’s necessary to shape the tooth a little more after the resin hardens. After the procedure is done, it’s recommended that the patient avoid coffee, cigarettes, and other substances that can stain the resin for at least the first 48 hours. At Frisco Dental Associates, we have helped many patients in the Frisco, TX area improve the look of their teeth with dental bonding. If you are interested in the procedure, please call our office to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
