Patients who have minor tooth imperfections and flaws, like chipped, discolored, cracked or decayed teeth, can highly benefit from dental bonding. Your smile will be restored in just one appointment, maintaining the natural appearance and function of your teeth. No one will notice that you have a dental restoration!
Dental bonding is the process of using a tooth-colored material (composite resin) attached with an adhesive to your teeth to fill/repair defects and make aesthetic improvements to the teeth. It can also be used to close gaps between teeth and cover the surface of a tooth to change its color or shape. The bonding looks and functions just like the original tooth.
This procedure has to be performed accurately and without errors by an experienced cosmetic dentist like Dr. Aznavour or the bonded tooth will fail (the filling will loosen, fall out, break or the patient will have tooth sensitivity).
If you have the following conditions, then you are a candidate for a bonding treatment:
Tooth bonding can last up to 10 years if properly maintained. This means avoid chewing or eating hard candies, ice and other hard things that can break the bonded tooth.
Dental bonding offers many advantages as a cosmetic treatment. It’s an affordable, quick and straightforward option to restore minor cosmetic imperfections. Additionally, your enhanced smile can be completed in just a couple of hours.
Here are some of the benefits that makes bonding a practical solution:
Fix Minor Dental Imperfections: Through dental bonding, a series of standard dental imperfections like chipped/cracked teeth, stained teeth, decayed teeth, spaces and gaps between teeth, crooked teeth and misshapen teeth can be fixed.
Simple and Fast: Bonding is the easiest and simplest treatment. This procedure can be completed in one appointment and can take as little as 30 to 60 minutes per tooth compared to other extensive procedures like crowns and veneers, which need to be fabricated in a dental laboratory before the treatment can even take place.
Easy and Painless: Bonding requires a small amount or no removal of tooth enamel, which helps retain the health and natural structure of your tooth. It doesn’t usually require the use of anesthesia unless the procedure is being performed to fill a decayed tooth.
Durable: Dental bonding is a durable and long-lasting dental treatment which can last up to 10 years if properly maintained.
Affordable: Compared to other cosmetic dental procedures, dental bonding is a very affordable treatment for patients who desire to improve their smile within their budget.
In most cases, the dental bonding process can be completed in one to two hours. The length of the bonding procedure depends on the number of teeth that are going to be bonded. After one appointment, you can leave the dentist's office with a new and improved smile.
The dental bonding process is divided into 4 phases:
Little preparation is needed before starting the dental bonding treatment. The dentist will use a tooth color chart guide to select a color that closely matches the color of your teeth. Afterwards, the dentist will place clear dental strips or a similar product between the treated tooth in order to keep the composite resin away from the adjacent teeth. Afterward, your tooth will be treated with an application of a substance called “etch,” which prepares the tooth surface to strengthen the adhesion. Next, your dentist will rinse out your mouth with water.
The dentist will apply a small amount of the tooth-colored composite resin to your tooth. Then, the bonding material used on the tooth will be shaped in place, and for optimal results, several layers of composite resin may be applied. Finally, the bonding material will be smoothed until the desired shape is achieved.
After using the composite resin, the material will be hardened with a small UV dental light or laser. The light will be directed to the bonding material on each tooth for a few seconds. When all teeth have been treated, then your clear dental strips will be removed by the dentist.
After the material is hardened, the dentist will further trim and shape it, clean it and then polish it to match the shine of the rest of the tooth surface. Afterwards, the dentist will check the appearance of your teeth regarding symmetry, refinement of the bonding solution, bite and the etching. In this way, the dentist will be assured you will leave the office with a natural and more uniform appearance for your teeth.
Although dental bonding requires little more than routine dental hygiene, it is necessary to take special care of them to preserve their structure and natural-looking color. Also, it is important to attend the follow-up treatments so your dentist can check your overall oral health and, if needed, repair composite that has faded, stained or chipped.
If you are unhappy with imperfections in your teeth or with the way they’re positioned within your mouth, Dr. Aznavour is able to help to transform your smile significantly with dental bonding. Call (661) 260-1220to schedule an appointment at our dental practice conveniently located at 24242 Lyons Avenue in Santa Clarita.
(661) 260-1220