Bonding is a restorative procedure which often serves as an alternative to veneers. Dental bonding can repair chipped, cracked, gapped, misaligned or discolored teeth, enabling you to regain a fully functional and beautiful smile. Bonding may also be used to fill small cavities or replace silver amalgam fillings.
Bonding is a relatively inexpensive and quick procedure which can be done in just one or two visits to our office. During the procedure, the tooth is prepared by lightly etching the surface. In most cases, no original tooth structure is removed. Once the tooth is ready, a safe bonding liquid is applied and a plastic resin, which closely matches your natural tooth color, is applied to the repair site. Our team then works to sculpt the resin into the desired shape and side. Once the tooth is perfect, a high intensity light is applied to the area to harden the resin. Before leaving the office, a member of our experienced dental team will complete the procedure by polishing your beautiful new smile. In many cases, patients will pair the bonding with a whitening procedure to complete the dental makeover.
The resin used for bonding is not as durable as tooth enamel and may chip or become stained over time. On average, the results of a bonding procedure last 3 to 5 years but with proper oral care and a healthy diet, they may remain for up to ten years. Veneers and crowns are often more durable, however, unlike bonding these procedures can be quite costly, time consuming and cause significantly more damage to the original tooth. Contact our office to learn which procedure is best for you.