Bonding
A restorative procedure for cracked, chipped, or misarranged teeth.
Our teeth are incredibly strong, but they’re not indestructible.
Bonding is a restorative procedure that fixes teeth that are chipped, cracked, discolored, or malaligned. It’s painless, long-lasting, and you can get it done in one appointment. Chipping your tooth is easier than you think –you can chip a tooth on a glass bottle, water fountain, or even ice cubes. It’s more common to chip a tooth if you struggle with tooth decay, bruxism, or deal with abnormal amounts of acid that eat away at your enamel.
Teeth bonding can help repair chipped teeth and prevent them from further damage. The “bond” is a composite resin similar to your natural tooth color applied to the tooth making it appear as good as new.
Tooth bonding is best for teeth that have suffered minor injuries and that aren’t severely decayed.
In this procedure, the tooth is prepared by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid. Once the liquid sets, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape to repair the damage, and cured with a UV light. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance.
Caring for your bonded tooth.
Nothing is as strong as your natural teeth and enamel, including the composite resin. So while your bond repairs the tooth, you still need to take good care of it.
You should avoid doing things like chewing on ice cubes or pens. Hard foods and excess candy can also cause damage to your bond. However, these aren’t good for your natural teeth either, so it’s best to avoid them generally, especially with a history of chipping or breaking teeth.
It’s also important to note that resin doesn’t resist long-term stains as well as your enamel. You’re more likely to experience long-term discoloration if you drink lots of coffee and red wine or if you smoke. Bonding typically lasts three to five years before need of repair.
Contact us to schedule a bonding appointment today!