Are discolored teeth impacting the appearance of your smile? Do you have dental injuries that create an unbalanced bite? Ask our office about teeth bonding in Lansdale, PA. Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that uses composite resin, typically a mixture of acrylic and ceramic materials. Dental bonding can brighten and add structure to the enamel when applied to a tooth. Tooth bonding treatment fixes areas of discoloration or damage to create a more uniform smile.
The Benefits of Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is one of the most accessible dental treatments available. This is because it can be completely removed if needed. Many treatment options aren’t eligible for children because they permanently alter the smile. Even children can get dental bonding to repair a chipped or broken tooth.
Bonding can take care of anything that porcelain veneers can. This includes chipped or broken teeth, crooked or misshapen teeth, or gaps between teeth. However, it’s not a permanent treatment like porcelain veneers are. Though bonding material is temporary, it can last for five years or more if properly managed. If you commit to a permanent solution, the bonding can be removed and replaced with a porcelain veneer.
Because it’s temporary, your tooth doesn’t have to be permanently altered to get bonding. There’s very minimal tooth preparation required. If you no longer want a dental restoration, you don’t have to replace the bonding material with anything. Dental bonding is one of the most cost-effective procedures, too. It’s affordable for almost any patient, and almost any patient is eligible.
While dental bonding can’t be whitened with professional teeth whitening solutions, it’s easy to take care of discoloration or other issues. We can remove the bonding material and replace it with color-matched material that matches the rest of your smile. If your dental bonding chips or cracks, we can add more to complete your tooth again.
The Tooth Bonding Process
Before treatment, we will examine your mouth to determine if dental bonding is the best cosmetic treatment for you. To begin treatment, we will create a mix of composite resin to apply to the teeth. The bonding material is malleable, so we can sculpt it to look like a natural tooth. Once we ensure the bonded teeth are the correct color, shape, and size, we cure them with UV light. The light hardens the resin in place for durability and strength.
To ensure your bonded teeth last, brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Remember to floss between your teeth to remove bacteria build-up. Wear a custom sports mouthguard to protect your bonded teeth from injuries or loss if you play sports. Finally, visit our dental office twice yearly for a dental cleaning and examination.
Tooth Bonding FAQs
Dental bonding is one of the most versatile treatment options. Learn more about it by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Can I whiten my bonded tooth?
Tooth bonding doesn’t respond to traditional whitening techniques because it isn’t natural human tissue. The bonding material is stain-resistant but can still stain over time, especially if you’re a heavy coffee drinker or tobacco user. To whiten a bonded tooth, we’ll remove the old bonding material and replace it with material that we color to blend in with the rest of your smile.
How long does it take to adjust to dental bonding?
Because it’s a foreign addition to your mouth, it can take some time for the bonded tooth to feel normal. Usually, it takes about two weeks to fully adjust to your newly bonded tooth. After this period, it will feel like one of your normal teeth.
Does getting a tooth bonded hurt?
No, you shouldn’t feel pain when your tooth is bonded. You may feel some sensitivity for the first few days after the procedure because of the preparation we do to your tooth to ensure the bonding material adheres. If you experience pain, call us immediately.
How long after dental bonding can I eat?
One of the many benefits of dental bonding is no downtime. We cure and harden the material completely in the office, so you don’t have to wait to eat or drink anything. If we use a local anesthetic, we just recommend waiting until that wears off before you eat.
What should I avoid with dental bonding?
Try to avoid biting down directly onto the bonding material when you’re biting into hard or crunchy foods. Acidic foods and drinks can also increase enamel erosion and the speed at which the bonding material breaks down. While bonding material is stain-resistant, it can still stain. When you drink staining beverages, drink them through a straw to minimize their contact with the tooth.
Am I a good candidate for dental bonding?
Dental bonding is a solution that almost everyone is eligible for. It’s affordable and removable, so even children can get it without permanently altering their smile. As with any cosmetic treatment, though, we’ll ensure you have good oral health before proceeding.
Call Our Dental Office Today
Do you want to try dental bonding? Request a dental appointment with our dental team on our website. You can also call our dental office for tooth bonding treatment today at 267-651-7247. At your next consultation, please let us know if you have any questions, and we can help.