The dental bonding procedure
utilizes a composite resin and is used for a variety of structural
as well as cosmetic purposes. One can draw a parallel between
dental bonding materials and a sculptor's clay. By using dental
composite resin bonding your dentist can restore chipped or
broken teeth, fill in gaps and reshape or recolor your smile.
Bonding is a composite
resin filling placed in the back teeth as well as the front
teeth. Composites are the solution for restoring decayed teeth,
making cosmetic improvements and even changing the color of
your teeth or the reshaping of teeth. Bonding will lighten any
stains you may have, close up minor gaps and can be used to
correct crooked teeth. Basically, bonding will cover any natural
flaws applying a thin coating of a plastic material on the front
surface of your teeth. After this, your cosmetic dentist will
apply a bonding material and sculpt, color and shape it to provide
a pleasing result. A high-intensity light then hardens the plastic,
and the surface is finely polished.
A very mild etching solution
is applied to your teeth to create very small crevices in the
tooth's enamel structure. These small crevices provide a slightly
rough surface permitting a durable resin to bond materials to
your teeth. The resin is then placed on your tooth and high-intensity
light cures the resins onto your tooth's surface - with each
individual layer of resin hardening in just minutes. When the
last coat has been applied to your tooth, the bonded material
is then sculpted to fit your tooth and finely polished.
The resin comes in many
shades so that we can match it to your natural teeth. Due to
the layers involved, this procedure will take slightly longer
than traditional silver fillings because multiple layers of
the bonding material are applied. Typically bonding takes an
hour to two hours depending on your particular case.
There are two types of
bonding. What type is indicated in your situation depends upon
whether you have a small area or a larger area that requires
correction.
For small corrections
These are one appointment
fillings which are color-matched to the tooth and are bonded
to the surface for added strength. These are most appropriate
for small fillings and front fillings as they may not be as
durable for large fillings.
For larger corrections
Dental lab-created tooth-colored
fillings require two appointments and involve making a mold
of your teeth and placing a temporary filling. A dental laboratory
then creates a very durable filling to custom-fit the mold made
from your teeth. These fillings are typically made of porcelain.
The custom-fit filling is then bonded to your tooth on your
return visit. This type is even more natural looking, more durable
and more stain resistant.
If you have close, small
gaps between your front teeth, or if you have chipped or cracked
teeth, you may be a candidate for bonding. Bonding is also used
for patients who have discolored teeth, uneven teeth, gum recession
or tooth decay. Bonding material is porous, so smokers will
find that their bonding will yellow. If you think you are a
candidate for bonding, discuss it with your dentist.
Pros
and Cons of Tooth Bonding
Advantages of dental bonding:
Esthetics is the big
advantage over silver fillings. As silver does not stick to
teeth, entirely healthy tooth structure is usually removed to
keep a silver filling in place. Composites permit your cosmetic
dentist to remove only the decayed area of your tooth. Unlike
silver fillings, composite bonding expand just like your teeth
and are much less likely to cause cracks in your tooth. Composites
bond directly to the tooth providing support. Composites can
be used to fill in cracks, chips and gaps - and will match the
color of your other teeth.
Disadvantages
of the dental bonding procedures:
Bonding with composites simply costs more in material and time.
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