Teeth Bonding treatment ? an introduction
Tooth bonding is a modern dentistry treatment that is widely popular. It involves the use of a composite resin material that comes in the colour of the teeth. The composite material is applied to the surface of the tooth. It is then hardened using a special light. This light bond the composite material to the tooth more strongly. As a result, the procedure restores as well as improves the smile of a patient.
The procedure of teeth bonding is quite simpler compared to almost any other treatment related to cosmetic dentistry. There is no need to administer a patient with anaesthetics unless of course a dentist is filling up your cavity. The entire procedure gets over in just a single sitting much unlike many other methods used in modern dentistry. In other words, you do not need making a number of trips to your dentist?s practice. You can be rest assured the process is absolutely non-invasive and painless.
Who is an ideal patient to undergo this procedure?
You are an ideal candidate to undergo this procedure if you suffer from any of the following conditions ?
- Discoloured or stained teeth
- Decayed and diseased teeth (in other words teeth with cavities)
- Worn out tooth
- Misshaped teeth
- Teeth shorter in length
- Gaps in between the teeth
However, it is your dentist who will take the final decision on whether tooth bonding is a suitable procedure for you to cater to your unique needs.
Reasons for choosing composite over other alternatives
When tooth bonding is concerned, composite resin is the most obvious choice for dentists. There are several reasons behind this particular choice which include the following ?
- Absolutely non-invasive nature of treatment
- No injections
- No drilling
- Moreover, the composite material is easily mouldable
These factors associated with composite resin prove helpful for dentists. They can apply as well as shape the resin material as per their preliminary design with greater ease. Thus, a patient?s smile can be more perfected.
The procedure of teeth bonding ? before and after
Pre or before composite bonding
Dentists usually recommend the bonding treatment to the areas in the mouth that generally receive low bite pressure. This includes the area of the front teeth. In addition to that the rest of the teeth that are in need of minor or nominal repair are also considered ideal for this procedure. On the other hand, if your teeth are severely diseased and decayed or subjected to greater bite pressure, then your dentist may not recommend you this treatment.
Once you are found eligible for this treatment your dentist will prepare your tooth as the first step to the procedure. The damaged portion of the tooth is roughened so that the bonding material better sticks to the surface better. At this stage you may be administered with local anaesthesia to numb your sensations around the damaged tooth. Roughening the tooth surface may not exactly be painful though but certainly it triggers a lot of discomfort for everyone.
The composite bonding element
Your dentist carefully selects a composite resin that matches with the natural shade of your teeth even before roughening your tooth surface. This selected composite material is bonded to the damaged tooth. It easily gets moulded in shape and fills up every chip and crack on your tooth. Thus, the tooth appears straighter and perfect in physical dimension. The composite resin material can hardly be distinguished from the natural enamel covering of the teeth. in easier words this is to say your bonded tooth looks exactly like the natural ones and it is practically impossible to differentiate between them.
A special light is used to harden the resin. Once the resin is properly set and hardened, the dentist asks you to bite down. If you feel any excess of the composite material, report it to the dentist. The extra resin material is filed away to leave you with a uniform bite. The filing continues unless and until the perfect results are achieved.
Post composite bonding procedure
This treatment involves a pretty simple and linear procedure. Moreover, it offers another striking benefit ? tooth bonding does not bind you to any especial or specific dental care regimen. Initially you may feel little awkward as your mouth is pretty sensitive to changes. You are likely to feel your teeth have suddenly become odd in shape or wider once the procedure ends. In course of time the differences and inconveniences will ease away automatically.
Risks involved in the procedure
As a matter of fact, dental bonding procedure does not involve any serious risk. However, you must keep a few things in your mind. Those include ?
The resin that is used in the procedure is though durable but is not as hardy and strong as your natural teeth. Thus, chances do exist all the time that the composite may chip or break away from the tooth. In order to avoid this from happening you have to stop chewing pens and pencils, biting on anything hard like your nails, ice cubes, candies and others.
Composite resin is highly prone to pick up stains. Limit consumption of pigmented foods and drinks like coffee, red wine, tea and others to avoid unsightly discolouration of your bonded tooth or teeth. Consumption of tobacco in any form also causes teeth staining.
Average life of composite bonding
The average life of composite bonding treatment is not uniform and rather varies from case to case. Actually, it depends on certain factors ? like the quantity of bonding that you underwent and of course your personal habits and daily oral care regimen. If you prefer biting nails, opening beer bottles with the teeth instead of a bottle opener, biting on ice and pens, the binding material may give way and break. Thanks to your excessive addiction to pigmented beverages and foods the bonded tooth or teeth may easily pick up stains, points out a dentist with years of experience in composite bonding treatment.?On an average the life of composite bonded tooth is between 3 and 10 years. Then you may have to either touch it up or replace it with a new one. Make sure to get your composite bonding treatment from an experienced dentist to secure the best mileage.
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
