Aesthetic Restoration: Dental Bonding

What is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding uses a tooth-colored plastic resin (composite resin) to correct cosmetic and restorative issues. It serves as an excellent, cost-effective alternative to veneers for teeth that are:

Chipped or Cracked
Discolored (improving the shade)
Rotated or have small gaps (reshaping and closing diastemas)

How the Procedure Works

1. Preparation

The tooth surface is lightly etched and a bonding liquid is applied and cured with a light to create a strong anchor.

2. Sculpting

The plastic composite resin is applied and skillfully sculpted by the dentist, layer by layer, into the desired tooth shape.

3. Finishing

The cured resin is trimmed, smoothed, and polished to achieve a natural, flawless appearance that matches your surrounding teeth.

Key Considerations

The bonding procedure is fast, often completed in a single office visit with minimal removal of tooth enamel (or none at all). However, note that the plastic resin is not as strong as natural enamel, making it susceptible to chipping or staining over time.

Durability: Bonding typically lasts several years (3 to 10 years) before touch-ups or repair may be needed.
Maintenance: It is generally easy and inexpensive to repair if chipped or damaged, unlike crowns or veneers.