A Guide to Dental Bonding

The majority of us will visit the dentist once every six months and wait to hear if we need any further work. The majority of dentists will endeavour to help keep costs low for patients by only recommending essential work. However, there are plenty of dental patients out there who require minor cosmetic work which is often overlooked because it is not essential.

We’re talking about discoloured teeth. Crooked teeth. Chipped teeth and cracked teeth. They are probably not causing you any pain right now so your dentist will not see it as essential work. But imagine if there was an easy and cost-effective way to sort out these minor problems. You’d probably feel much more confident about smiling, whether you’re on a family photograph or in a business meeting.

If you think you may require some minor cosmetic dental work, it could be an idea to ask your dentist about dental bonding. Dental bonding uses the most advanced dental materials to repair and restore a wide range of minor dental issues and structural imperfections.

Dental bonding material is a composite resin. Your dentist will be able to choose from a range of resins so that you have the right one to match the natural colour of your teeth. The first step is to polish your teeth, then apply phosphoric acid to the teeth to roughen the surface. This rougher surface helps to hold the composite resin in place once it is applied to the teeth.

Applying the composite resin is a way which matches your existing teeth and looks natural demands real skill from your dentist. Many dentists become experts in cosmetic dentistry simply because the levels of expertise required calls for specialist discipline. The composite resin needs to be applied to the teeth, then shaped and smoothed until it looks exactly right. It calls for care, attention to detail and no small amount of artistry.

The primary benefits of dental bonding are therefore twofold. Firstly, it is capable of giving people who want to restore their smile a very natural look. The bonding material can expand and contract as your natural teeth move, so that the natural teeth do not become crooked or damaged by the resin. Secondly, dental bonding is a fairly painless procedure for patients. In many cases, an anaesthetic is only required is there is a significant amount of shaping or repair work to the existing teeth, such as filing. If not, the teeth can be bonded without anaesthetic.

There are also a number of secondary benefits to choosing dental bonding. The bonding process itself is very quick. The dental bonding itself can usually be begun and completed in a single visit and the improvement to your teeth is noticeable immediately. Once the composite resin is applied, it can be hardened very quickly using an intense blue light. So there is no need to return for an extra visit, as you would do for a crown or veneers, for example.

The other benefit of tooth bonding is that it can be used to replace amalgam fillings. Many people are choosing to get their amalgam fillings replaced because they want the traditional black fillings replaced with something more natural and aesthetic. Some people also have concerns about the health issues created by the mercury contained in amalgam fillings. Dental bonding, therefore, offers a viable alternative. It is strong, durable and long-lasting, so it will protect your teeth as well as amalgam fillings. At the same time, it can be matched to the natural colour of your existing teeth, so it will be difficult to tell that you have a filling at all.

If these are the benefits of dental bonding, what are the disadvantages? In fact, are there any? Well, there may be a couple. The skills required to deliver a high quality finish to bonding work means that not all dentists offer the service. You may need to find a specialist practice. Also, you should remember that dental bonding should only really be used for minor cosmetic work. It can be affordable; however, it should not provide a way to cut corners on essential dental work. Some teeth that have serious damage may require a crown or dental implant instead.