Cosmetic Tooth Bonding

Whereas Veneers are applied to the entire front surface of the tooth, tooth bonding is applied to a smaller portion of the tooth. Most often, bonding is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of decayed, cracked, chipped, or discolored teeth. It can also be used to close small gaps between teeth, as well as increase the size of a tooth for more overall symmetry. Your dentist applies a tooth-coloured composite resin (plastic) to one or more of your teeth to repair the decayed, chipped, fractured or discoloured tooth. The resin is shaped and hardened with a special light, which ultimately ‘bonds’ the material to the tooth to restore or improve a person’s smile. It is not only cosmetically pleasing and unnoticeable but also adds strength to weakened teeth thanks to new bonding technologies. It’s ideal if you have a chipped, cracked, or discoloured tooth because it can give you the confidence to flash those pearly whites, and it’s considerably less expensive than other cosmetic dental procedures such as crowns and veneers.

Tooth bonding is an ideal solution to fix a defect or imperfection within a tooth. It is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Because it is relatively easy to perform, it is fast and generally does not require any downtime. If you don’t need anesthesia, you can continue with your normal daily routine right after the procedure. The composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth, so it is indiscernible from your other natural teeth.

Dental bonding can last for upwards of five years, though some patients require touch-ups to address stain accumulation along the resin’s margins. In order to ensure the longevity of your dental bonding, regular dental cleanings are recommended. It’s also important to brush regularly with a soft-bristled brush and to floss daily. Reducing sweets or starchy food can also be helpful to ensure the longevity of your dental bonding.