At Aspen Smile Dentistry, we can perform dental bonding, which allows us to repair chipped, cracked, and broken teeth. There are many dental cosmetic treatment options, and bonding provides a low-cost, pain-free solution, especially when damage is not too severe.
The dental bonding material is made of a tooth-colored resin. The resin is a plastic material that bonds quickly with the tooth surface and lasts a long time. It is prepared just before the procedure and promptly applied to the tooth.
The Dental Bonding Process
First, Dr. Ian Lowell will clean the tooth as necessary. Depending on the repair needs, he may also need to drill and shape the tooth. If that is the case, we can provide anesthesia to eliminate any pain and make sure you are comfortable.
Next, we use a specialized technique and tool to roughen the tooth. This process creates micro gaps in the enamel, allowing a better hold between the tooth surface and the bonding material. We add a conditioning liquid that also helps with adherence. We place and shape the bonding resin to create the desired look and effect. Then we’ll use a light to allow the bonding material to harden. Last, another round of trimming and polishing takes place to match the color of your teeth and produce the final look.
A bonding usually takes about 30 minutes. The hardening process with the light means that you can eat or drink after you leave, though you may experience some temporary sensitivity.
Uses for Dental Bonding
Dental bonding treatment has many benefits, including:
- Restoring decayed teeth and cavities – we can use dental bonding to restore a tooth’s look and feel after drilling and removing the decayed tooth portion. The dental bonding will match the tooth’s look and feel to match the rest of your smile.
- Restoring tooth chips or cracks – after being cleaned, dental bonding material allows us to fill and shape the tooth to have a natural look and seal off the vulnerable portion.
- Filling gaps between teeth – your dentist can use bonding material at the edge of the tooth to extend it into the holes and mitigate issues with having enlarged spaces between teeth.
- Making teeth appear longer – similar to filling gaps, your dentist applies the bonding material to the top of teeth to make the teeth longer and then shapes and polishes them to match the look of the surrounding teeth.
- Changing the shape of the tooth – bonding can be used to cosmetically adjust the tooth’s profile in any particular area, especially for teeth that do not match well with the rest of your smile.
- Protecting tooth roots – when gum lines recede, tooth roots unprotected by enamel can be sensitive and more prone to decay. Dental bonding can provide an additional layer to protect exposed roots.
Does Dental Bonding Require Retreatment?
If you ever have dental bonding issues, we can quickly and easily restore the bonding. Over time, it is possible that your bonding will weaken, wear, or even break. Sometimes it just happens without a significant incident. Foods high in acidity can weaken dental bondings and increase the chances of adhesion to fail. Chewing on complex objects or food like ice or candy can also create issues. We can repair dental bonding similarly to how we applied it. We can add adhesion and shape it as necessary.
With good habits and regular examination, dental bonds can last decades and meet your needs for many years to come.
Contact Us Today for Quality Dental Bonding in Aspen
If you feel you could benefit from any of these dental bonding treatments, let us know. Dental bonding can give an authentic transformative look to your mouth and teeth.