by maria |
Last Updated: November 4, 2020 The shape and shine of your dental crown define your facial aesthetics. Decaying and discoloration teeth with stains is a sign of bad dental health. Blaming lifestyle and food habits is fine to an extent, but following healthy dental care practices could keep you away from the heavy cost of dental treatments. Thankfully, you can regain the natural shine of your teeth and shape chipped or broken teeth by dental bonding treatment. It is one of the best and most economical cosmetic dentistry for minor dental repairs.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Want to get rid of stained teeth or reshape a chipped tooth or fill a minor gap between front teeth? Dental bonding– a cosmetic dentistry procedure—is the answer. The dentist applies matching tooth-colored composite resin on the tooth and then sculpts and hardens it using UV light. Once done, s/he will polish it to make it look natural. Resin is a highly effective bonding material used in cosmetic dentistry. In some cases, dental bonding is used for filling cavities as it looks more natural as compared to silver fillings.
Dental Bonding Procedure
First of all, you have to make up your mind regarding what you expect from a cosmetic dental bonding procedure. So, it is better to discuss your dental issues and expectations with your dentist. Following a thorough examination, dentists will advise suitable dental treatment to help you regain natural shine and shape. The dental bonding procedure is done in one visit, which involves:
- Application of mild phosphoric acid to the surface of the tooth to make it a little rough for smooth bonding.
- Once ready with a rough tooth surface, your dentists will apply tooth-colored composite resin on the surface of the tooth. Etching of the surface helps in holding the bonding material and ensures durability.
- The dentist will sculpt the putty-like layer to match the tooth shape using suitable equipment.
- Since it is a layer, UV light is used to harden and set the material on the surface.
- The last step involves polishing to make the tooth look natural.
Dental Bonding: Pros and Cons
If you compare it with veneers, then dental bonding is far cheaper, but it has its own drawbacks. Before you book an appointment with a dentist near you, here are the advantages and disadvantages of dental bonding to help you decide better:
Advantages of Dental Bonding
- Cost: Unlike veneers and braces, the treatment of dental bonding is very economical, when you consider the improvements you achieve in just a few hours. The cost of dental bonding varies depending on complexity, expectation, and location in the range of $300 to $600 per tooth. Although it is considered a cosmetic treatment, several dental insurances offer maximum cover. However, you should better discuss this with your insurer before starting the treatment.
- Speed: If you are in a hurry, to reshape your tooth and regain dental shine, then you can achieve remarkable results in just one visit. A well-trained dentist takes less than an hour per tooth.
- Ease: For minor cosmetic enhancements like stain hiding or reshaping chipped tooth anesthesia is not required. The procedure is painless, and the least amount of enamel is scratched to ensure proper bonding.
Disadvantages of Dental Bonding
- Staining: Since dental binding is all about minor cosmetic enhancements, the bonding material is bound to discolor with time. If you can control your tea, coffee, and smoking habits and maintain good oral hygiene, then you can extend its life at par with porcelain veneers.
- Durability: The composite resin used in dental bonding is not as strong as porcelain veneers and crowns. The tensile strength is relatively less, so it might chip easily. However, if done professionally and maintained carefully, then it can last 3 to 7 years.
Conclusion
Dental bonding is a great cosmetic dentistry choice, but you have to be realistic about expectations. If you are looking for minor cosmetic improvements like discoloration, staining, or chipped teeth, dental bonding can help you get results in just a few hours at a low cost. Discuss your expectations with your dentist, so that he could suggest suitable treatments.