What is Dental Bonding?

There are more types of dental procedures than most people can even imagine. The most important thing to know is that all dental procedures are designed to improve the health of your smile. Most dental procedures can also enhance the appearance of your smile – which is always a desired outcome. One of the simplest dental procedures used to repair a tooth or as a cosmetic option is dental bonding. Dental bonding is a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored material called resin is applied to the tooth and hardened with a special light so that the material “bonds” with the tooth. Resin is a durable plastic material that can be color-matched to your natural teeth so that it blends in seamlessly with your smile.

Dental bonding is used for a variety of reasons, including:

• To repair a chipped or cracked tooth
• To fill cavities (an option that replaces amalgam fillings)
• To close spaces between the teeth
• To change the shape of a tooth or teeth
• To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
• To protect a portion of a tooth’s root that is exposed from gum recession

Dental bonding is an easy and relatively quick procedure. Typically, anesthesia is not used unless a cavity needs to be filled, the tooth is chipped near the nerve, or the tooth needs to be filed to change its shape. For most procedures, however, the dentist will simply use a color chart to select a composite resin that matches your teeth. The bonding material will be created and set aside until it’s needed. Next, the surface of the tooth will be roughened, and a conditioning liquid will be applied. These procedures help create a bond between the tooth and the resin. After the tooth is coated, the resin will be applied, molded, and smoothed into the desired shape. Then, the dentist will use a special curing light to harden the resin so that it “bonds” with the tooth. Once the material has hardened, it will be polished to match the sheen of the natural teeth.

Dental bonding takes about 30-60 minutes, making it a procedure that is easy to work into your busy schedules. If you would like to learn more about dental bonding and find out if it’s right for you, contact Buford Family Dental today.