What Is Dental Bonding?
What is dental bonding? Is it something that dentists themselves do in the break room over lunch to improve their interpersonal relationships? Is it a reference to the dentist-patient bond that develops over time? Not quite. Dental bonding is really an affordable cosmetic procedure that quickly and easily improves the appearance of a patient’s teeth.
Dental bonding can repair minor imperfections in the teeth, such as discoloration or chipped teeth. In some cases, dental bonding procedures are also performed to protects the roots of teeth or gums. This type of bonding is done in cases of gum recession, particularly when a root is partially exposed.
Dental bonding can repair decayed or damaged teeth, restored yellowed teeth to a whiter hue, or eliminated small spaces between teeth. In certain cases, dental bonding can even be used to improve the shape of a person’s teeth.
Although dental bonding is not as strong as a veneer or a crown, it can still be used in a similar fashion. How does it work? Basically, dental bonding simply involves applying, or bonding, a tooth-colored resin to the teeth. This resin is very secure because it is affixed to the teeth by means of a specialized medical light that strengthens it and ensures that it will stick to the teeth. The resin is very unlikely to fall away or break off.
Some uses of dental bonding include:
- Filling in small gaps between the teeth
- Repairing decayed teeth
- Adjusting the size of a tooth
- Repairing chips or cracks in teeth
- Root protection in cases of receding gums
- Changing tooth shape
- Covering up discoloration
Bonding is a relatively quick procedure, requiring between 30 and 60 minutes per tooth in most cases. Usually, anesthesia is not required, since bonding is a painless dental procedure. Following dental bonding, no extra care is required. Your usual habits of good dental hygiene will be sufficient to ensure that the bonded teeth remain healthy and beautiful.
Contact Community Dental Group today to find out if dental bonding is right for. Call us at 805-499-1253 to set up an exam consultation. At Community Dental Group, we’ve been keeping California smiles beautiful for nearly twenty years! With dental bonding, we can make your teeth perfect in no time at all.