Crooked, stained, and chipped teeth can negatively influence one’s smile and confidence. That is why people with flawed smiles are perceived as less attractive and less approachable. At Northstar Dental Care, we believe that everyone deserves to enjoy a beautiful smile. So, no matter how crooked or cosmetically flawed your teeth are, our dentists will restore them with cosmetic dental bonding to give you the smile you truly deserve!
What is Cosmetic Dental Bonding?
According to the American Dental Association, bonding is a cosmetic procedure where your dentist will “bond” a tooth-colored filling material over damaged teeth to restore their structure, function, and esthetics. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, dental bonding is the most helpful procedure for repairing damaged teeth, as it restores both the esthetics and tooth function.
Who Can Benefit from Tooth Bonding?
If you have cosmetically or structurally damaged teeth, you may benefit from dental bonding. Some of the cases where dental bonding is highly effective include:
- Chipped or crooked teeth
- Fractured teeth
- Teeth with permanent stains
- Permanent restoration after root canal treatment
- To replace old silver amalgam fillings
- To cosmetically hide excessive teeth gaps or diastemas
- To cosmetically fix minor tooth crowding or misalignment
- To restore the size, shape, and esthetics of congenitally misshaped teeth
- To treat root cavities
- Cosmetic bonding is also used for complete smile makeovers
What is the Procedure for Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a simple procedure that can be completed in under one hour for a single tooth. Here are the steps involved in cosmetic bonding:
- Tooth Preparation - in this step, we will remove the decayed tooth portions, leaving behind only the healthy tooth structure that can bond with the filling.
- Tooth surface Conditioning - next, a mild etchant will be applied on the tooth surface that will be bonded for 30 seconds. This makes the tooth surface porous, thereby improving the bond with the restorative material.
- Washing and Drying - after 30 seconds, the etchant will be washed away, and the tooth will be thoroughly washed and dried.
- Applying the Bonding - in the next step, we will add the bonding agent over the prepared tooth surface in increments. Each increment will be hardened with a special light that activates the polymer. In this way, the damaged tooth structure will be rebuilt in small increments.
- Polishing - once the tooth structure has been restored, we will polish the bonded tooth surface. This is done to maximize the esthetics and prevent the attachment of plaque and tartar deposits.
Usually, dental bonding does not require the administration of local anesthesia. However, suppose the extent of tooth decay is extensive and x-ray images show that it extends into the sensitive dentine layer of the tooth. In that case, we will administer local anesthesia to make you pain-free and relaxed.
What are the Benefits of Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding offers various benefits over other filling materials and indirect restorations:
- Tooth Conservation - unlike amalgam fillings that require extensive tooth removal for their placement, bonded restorations only require the removal of the decayed tooth structure. As a result, they are tooth conservative.
- Safety - dental bonding is safe and does not have any adverse effects or allergic reactions. In fact, dental bonding is used as a safer alternative to amalgam fillings.
- Esthetics - being tooth-colored, bonded restorations offer the best and most natural-like esthetics compared to other dental fillings.
- Potential for Repair - minor defects inbonded restorations is repairable in some cases.
- Les Costly - bonded fillings are less costly than other cosmetic options like luminaires and veneers.
Bonded Restorations Aftercare
With proper care, bonded restorations can last for many years. Here are some aftercare tips for composite fillings:
- Oral Hygiene Maintenance - maintaining optimal oral hygiene prevents plaque and tartar deposits that cause secondary tooth decay. All it takes is regular brushing and flossing.
- Avoid Strong-colored Foods and Drinks - strong-colored drinks like red wine and foods like curry can stain bonded restorations. Unfortunately, stained bonded restorations cannot be whitened with professional teeth whitening, and the only option is to repair or replace them.
- Regular Dental Visits - when you visit us regularly for checkups, we wil ensure that all your teeth and bonded restorations have no underlying issues. As a result, your restored teeth will and filings will last longer.
Dental bonding is one of the most commonly performed procedures worldwide. It is safe and restores optimal esthetics and function of the teeth. If you have one or more teeth that need restoration, visit us today at Northstar Dental Care, and walk away with a beautiful smile.
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