Cosmetic Dental Bonding: An Ideal Solution To Your Smile?

Realizing that there are plenty of options out there to restore your beautiful smile might be a little bit confusing. Somehow, you try as hard to find the perfect cosmetic solution in fixing a damaged tooth. That’s why you need to see a dental professional who can help you with this decision-making. Might be all you need is a cosmetic dental bonding treatment.

What is dental bonding? 

Tooth bonding is a process of applying a tooth-coloured putty-like or composite resin on one or more teeth to repair the damage. Usually, dentists perform this procedure as a cosmetic solution to patients who want to improve the looks of their smiles. Most patients needing tooth bonding have a damaged tooth that although not painful, makes them self-conscious. 

Nevertheless, bonding could also be done to fill in a cavity and restore the function of a tooth. Bonding is one of the many options, aside from dental crowns and veneers when it comes to cosmetic dentistry.

Why get teeth bonding?

Teeth bonding is able to correct a lot of dental problems. The material that the dentist uses can cover almost any tooth imperfection such as decayed or damaged teeth, cracked, and broken. If the teeth have gaps between each other, bonding easily conceals it. It can even hide severe teeth discolouration that is beyond the abilities of teeth whitening. Teeth that appear small may be fixed with bonding, as well. 

How does it work?

The procedure of dental bonding is simple and is non-invasive. A little bit of enamel may be removed, but it is only a very thin portion enough to let the bonding material sit. It doesn’t require the patient to be under anesthesia, except only when the process needs to fill in a cavity. Other than that, the treatment is complete in a single session that lasts for only a few minutes for each tooth.

Here is a step-by-step guide to give you an idea on what to expect during the tooth bonding procedure:

1. The dentist takes a shade guide and uses it to find the colour that closely matches your tooth shade. That will be the colour of the bonding material that will be used.
2. He begins to roughen the surface of the tooth and apply a conditioning liquid on it. This will help the bonding material to adhere properly to the tooth.
3. Then, he applies the composite resin material on the tooth and shapes it as desired.
4. Using a blue laser, the dentist hardens the bonding material.
5. Once it hardens, he polishes the tooth to make sure it matches the sheen of the rest of the bites.  

Advantages

If you’re considering dental cosmetic bonding, it could be your best option with these benefits:

• Fixes a lot of teeth imperfections. This includes teeth chips, breaks, fractures, gaps, discolouration, and small teeth. 
• Most conservative. Unlike other treatments, it doesn’t take too much tooth enamel or doesn’t need to remove any at all. 
• Cost-effective. It is very affordable and yet provides standard results.
• Quick and painless. Doesn’t need surgery or anesthetics for that matter.
• Long-lasting. With proper care and regular dental checkups, it could last for more than 10 years.  

Risks

If you will have teeth bonding, you should also expect the risks that come with the treatment and know how to manage it. Nevertheless, there are no major threats ever associated with bonding. 

• Less durable. Unlike veneers or crowns which are usually made of porcelain, the composite resin is less durable or strong. It may chip or break without proper maintenance.
• Not resistant to stain. It is also porous and may easily discolour when you eat or drink food with stain. Always practice proper oral hygiene every after meals. 

Cost 

On average, dental bonding will cost around $220 CAD to $500 CAD for every tooth. However, it will depend based on other factors such as geographical location, the dentist’s expertise, and the involvement of other procedures.

You may be thinking of letting your insurance provider cover the dental bill. However, you should meet with your agent first to confirm if your plan covers the treatment. Most insurance companies actually consider bonding a cosmetic treatment, rather than a necessary one and might not cover such expenses. 

Takeaway 

The way to a successful self-improvement journey is proper education and information. Learn your options and consult your plans with your Thornhill dentist. Dental bonding can benefit you in so many ways, but, it’s also best to ask for a professional opinion when available.