Cosmetic Bonding

A healthy and beautiful smile is an asset in today’s appearance-conscious world. According to a study conducted by Kelton Global, approximately 73 percent of Americans confirm that they’re more apt to trust someone with a nice smile over someone who wears designer clothes, drives a nice car, or has a good job! Howbeit, a stunning smile isn’t always easy to achieve.

Anyone who has a smile they don’t like gets creative with ways to hide it. Are you tired of covering your mouth with your hand whenever you smile in public? Or perhaps is your go-to tight-lipped smile for pictures getting old and exhausting? It’s time to let go of your aesthetic bounds and smile freely, all thanks to a miracle dental procedure called cosmetic bonding.

What is cosmetic bonding?

Tooth bonding, also known as cosmetic bonding is a simple procedure in which a tooth-tinted composite resin is applied to the surface of the tooth with the intent to repair it. This readily non-invasive procedure is completed in a single sitting and requires minimal preparation of the tooth. In fact, you will not need anesthesia for this procedure unless there is an old restoration or decay that needs extracting.

What is cosmetic bonding used for?

Cosmetic bonding is a versatile beautification procedure that can be used to address an array of common dental complaints such as:

● To repair decayed teeth (composite resins can be used to fill cavities)

● To repair chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth

● To enhance the appearance of discolored or stained teeth

● To close gaps between teeth

● To change the shape of the teeth or to make them look longer

● As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings

● To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed due to receding gums

How is cosmetic bonding done?

Unlike dental veneers, cosmetic dental bonding can be done completely in-house at your dental office. If you’re only getting a few teeth repaired, it is also possible to complete the entire process in a single visit.

● Preparation

Your dentist will begin by using a shade guide to select an appropriate shade of resin that will most intimately match the natural color of your tooth. A little advanced tooth preparation may be required for cosmetic dental bonding. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being done to fill a decayed tooth.

● The procedure

The bonding procedure begins by roughening your tooth surface. The dentist will then lightly coat the tooth with a conditioning liquid in order to enable the bonding material to adhere to the tooth surface with ease. The tooth-colored, putty-like resin is then applied, molded, and smoothed to the desired tooth shape. The material is hardened with the help of bright ultraviolet light or laser.

After the material hardens further, your dentist will trim and shape the tooth to the desired structure. The procedure ends with polishing the bonded tooth material to match the sheen of the rest of the teeth. The whole procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for each tooth, depending on how much repair is needed.

How to care for a bonded tooth?

You may experience some amount of tooth sensitivity for a few days after your bonding appointment. Over-the-counter painkillers can help manage this pain and discomfort. For the first 48 hours following the procedure, stick to mild and soft foods that aren’t too hot or too cold.

Since bonding material is highly prone to staining, you should watch your consumption of particularly pigmented food items like tea, coffee, wine, and cigarette smoke. Other than that, continue a strict oral hygiene regimen like brushing twice a day and flossing once a day as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA).

 

References:

1. American Dental Association, “Brushing teeth”-

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth

2. Webmd, “Teeth bonding”-

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-bonding

 

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