Dental Bonding Flashcards
What is Dental bonding?
Dental bonding refers to the procedure that bonds a composite resin to your teeth for aesthetic or bite purposes. The composite material is made from a durable plastic resin in tooth-colored shades. The resin’s shade is matched to your surrounding teeth to provide a natural look that restores — or improves —your smile.
For cosmetic bonding in the Bronx, the resin is applied directly to your tooth and sculpted to its surface. Through the curing process, the material chemically bonds to your tooth. Dental bonding can also act as a substitute for fillings in a cavity.
Uses for White Fillings
Your dentist (open on Sunday by appointment) uses white filling to restore your natural, confident smile. But there are other uses for white or natural-colored resin, such as:
Closing gaps between your teeth to even your bite or enhance your appearance
Repairing decayed teeth by filling the cavity
Repairing chipped or cracked teeth
Improving the appearance of discolored teeth
Teeth contouring to make teeth look longer
Reshaping teeth to even the symmetry
Protecting the tooth root that’s exposed when gums recede
Using it as an adhesive for applying veneers
Procedure for Dental Bonding
Regardless of the purpose, the process for dental bonding is straightforward. It takes between 30 and 60 minutes per tooth, but full restoration is immediate, causes little pain and requires no recovery time. Your Bronx dentist:
Cleans and examines your teeth to check your dental health
Discusses your cosmetic desires
Consults a shade guide to match the closest teeth
Provides a local anesthetic if you need or want one
Roughens your tooth slightly with an etching liquid for improved bonding
Coats the tooth with an adhesive liquid
Applies the resin to the tooth layer by layer, building it up to the right size
Molds and smoothes the resin into the proper shape
Hardens the resin with an ultraviolet light
Trims, shapes and polishes the tooth for final presentation
Advantages and Disadvantages
Composite filling is the most common and least expensive form of cosmetic dentistry. Because of its prevalent use, your dental bonding cost is relatively low — $100 to $400 per tooth. Since the bonding is applied directly to the tooth, you often require no anesthesia. Your dentist (open on Sundays) removes as little tooth enamel as possible. The process usually only requires one visit for the full treatment, unless multiple teeth are involved.
As with any dental procedure, there are some disadvantages. Composite fillings are not as strong as your natural teeth, so biting on hard or foreign objects can chip the resin material. How long do composite fillings last? You can expect to keep them intact for three to 10 years, depending on where they’re located in your mouth and the care you provide. Also, composite fillings aren’t as stain resistant as other fillings.
Amalgam Fillings vs. Composite Fillings
When you compare amalgam fillings vs. composite fillings, you trade a slightly harder material in the silver amalgam for a very natural-looking color. Composite resin is often used for teeth reshaping on front teeth. But there’s more to amalgam fillings vs. composite. For example, amalgam fillings:
Are the silver and mercury fillings almost everyone knows
Have a long track record of success — over 150 years
Combine silver and mercury into one of the strongest materials for fillings
Are recommended by dentists for back teeth, where there is increased bite pressure
Last the longest, often between 10 and 15 years
Are the least expensive option
Have a color that makes them noticeable, so they aren’t a good choice for front teeth
Require a larger, well-shaped hole in your tooth to hold properly
On the other hand, composite fillings:
Use a silica-based resin and tooth-colored plastics
Bond chemically to the tooth so less of your natural tooth needs to be removed
Match the shade of your other teeth, making them virtually undetectable
Aren’t as strong or last as long as amalgam fillings
Cost slightly more than amalgam fillings
Are a good choice for anyone with a mercury allergy
The dental bonding material’s versatility contributes to its widespread use. It’s well suited for altering or enhancing your teeth, improving function and adding confidence to your smile.
