Everything You Need to Know About Dental Bonding

What is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a way to fix teeth. A dentist puts tooth-colored resin on your teeth. The resin is like a special kind of plastic. The dentist shapes it to look nice. Then, they use a UV light to make it hard. This dental adhesive technology helps the resin stick to your teeth.

Bonding can:

• Fix chipped teeth
• Fill gaps between teeth
• Make teeth look whiter
• Fix teeth that are not the same size

Bonding is fast. It takes about 30-90 minutes per tooth.

When Do You Need Dental Bonding?

You might need dental bonding if:

• You have a chipped tooth
• You have gaps between your teeth
• Your teeth have stains that won’t come off
• Your teeth are not the same shape or size
• You have a small cavity

Dentists use composite resin bonding for small fixes. It is not good for big breaks or when your teeth are very crooked.

How Dental Bonding Works

The dental bonding procedure is easy:

1. The dentist picks a resin color that matches your teeth
2. They make your tooth a bit rough (called tooth enamel preparation)
3. They put on a special liquid (called etching process in dentistry)
4. They put the resin on and shape it
5. They use a UV light to make it hard
6. They make it smooth and shiny

Most people feel no pain during bonding. You don’t need shots to make your mouth numb.

Dental Bonding vs. Other Options

Let’s see how bonding is different from other ways to fix teeth:

Bonding is not as strong as ceramic veneers. But it costs less and is faster.

Pros of Dental Bonding

Dental bonding has many good things:

• Costs less than other ways to fix teeth
• One visit to the dentist is all you need
• No pain or very little pain
• Keeps most of your real tooth (called minimally invasive dentistry)
• Can fix many small problems
• Looks like real teeth

Cons of Dental Bonding

Some not-so-good things about bonding:

• Does not last as long as other fixes (5-10 years)
• Can stain from coffee, tea, or smoking
• Not as strong as crowns or dental implants for one tooth
• Not good for teeth that bite hard
• Might chip if you bite hard things

How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost?

Dental bonding cost breakdown:

• $300-$600 per tooth
• Less than veneers or crowns
• Some insurance coverage for bonding if it fixes a broken tooth
• Many dentists let you pay a bit each month

How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?

With good care, dental bonding can last 5-10 years. To make it last:

• Brush your teeth two times a day
• Floss every day
• Do not bite hard things like ice or pens
• Do not open things with your teeth
• See your dentist for check-ups
• Avoid foods that stain (coffee, red wine)

The dentist can fix bonding if it chips or breaks. This is called polishing composite resin.

Who Should Get Dental Bonding?

Bonding is good for:

• People who want a fast fix
• People who can’t spend a lot of money
• People with small chips or gaps
• People who want to see how new teeth might look before getting something that lasts longer

Bonding is not good for:

• People who smoke a lot
• People who drink a lot of coffee or red wine
• People who bite nails or chew ice
• People who need to fix many teeth
• People with big breaks in their teeth

What to Expect During Dental Bonding

The bonding agent application is fast and easy:

1. First visit: The dentist looks at your teeth and tells you if bonding will work.
2. Bonding day:
   • No need for shots to make your mouth numb
   • The dentist makes your tooth a bit rough
   • They put on special glue
   • They put on the resin and shape it
   • They use the UV light to make it hard
   • They make it smooth
3. After bonding:
   • You can eat right away
   • Your tooth might feel a bit strange at first
   • You take care of bonded teeth just like regular teeth

After Your Dental Bonding

After getting dental bonding, you need good oral hygiene post-bonding:

• Brush two times a day with a soft brush
• Floss every day
• Don’t bite hard things like ice or candy
• Don’t use your teeth to open things
• See your dentist for check-ups
• Ask about a bite force adjustments if your bonding feels wrong when you bite

Some people feel sensitivity after bonding, but it goes away fast.

Real Stories of Dental Bonding

Case 1: Tom had a chip in his front tooth from playing sports. The dentist used bonding to fix it in one visit. It cost $400 and took 45 minutes.

Case 2: Lisa had gaps between her front teeth. She got bonding to close the gaps. It cost $1,200 for three teeth and took two hours.

Case 3: Mike had old silver fillings that showed when he smiled. He got bonding to make them tooth-colored. It cost $900 for three teeth and took 90 minutes.

Questions People Ask About Dental Bonding

How to Find a Good Dentist for Bonding

To find a dentist who does good bonding:

• Ask friends who had bonding
• Look at before and after photos
• Read reviews online
• Ask the dentist how much bonding they do
• Ask if they use new tools like Chairside CAD/CAM systems
• Make sure they use good materials like Nano-hybrid composites

New Things in Dental Bonding

New dental adhesive technology makes bonding better:

• Adper™ Single Bond sticks better to teeth
• New resins last longer
• New colors match teeth better
• Dental laser systems help shape the bonding
• Tetric EvoFlow® fills small spaces better

The American Dental Association (ADA) says these new things help bonding last longer.

Words You Might Hear

• Composite resin: The tooth-colored material used in bonding
• Diastema: A gap between teeth
• Enamel microabrasion: Making the tooth surface a bit rough
• Phosphoric acid etching: Using a special acid to help the bonding stick
• Occlusal adjustment: Fixing how your teeth come together
• Proximal surface restoration: Fixing the sides of teeth
• Pulp protection agents: Things that keep the inside of your tooth safe

Making Your Decision

Think about these things when deciding about bonding:

1. How big is the problem? Bonding works best for small fixes.
2. How much can you spend? Bonding costs less than other fixes.
3. How fast do you need it done? Bonding takes one visit.
4. How long do you want it to last? Bonding lasts 5-10 years.
5. Do you drink coffee or red wine? These can stain bonding.

Final Thoughts

Dental bonding is a fast, low-cost way to fix small problems with your teeth. It looks good and doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t last as long as other fixes, but it costs less and takes just one visit.

Talk to your dentist about what’s best for your teeth. They can tell you if bonding will work for you or if you need something else.

Remember to take good care of your bonded teeth to make them last longer!