Cost Effective Bonding for Gaps, Chips and Stains

If you are in need of simple tooth corrections or teeth whitening, bonding offers a promising alternative. Similar to sculpting clay, this technique "bonds" a tooth colored composite resin on the front surface or inside of a tooth. In general, bonding is used for disguising decayed surfaces on your teeth, correcting broken edges of teeth, closing minor gaps, reshaping uneven or worn teeth, or changing your tooth color. Though not as strong or lasting as veneers, bonding offers a less expensive and quicker application for cosmetic restorations.

Bonding is a non-invasive and painless procedure. In essence, the process covers any natural flaws by lightly etching the surface of your tooth, which permits a durable resin to bond onto your tooth. This resin is then activated and hardened through a high-intensity light. The process continues until enough layers are applied to reach the desired tooth shape, translucency and texture. When the last coat has been applied to your tooth, the resin is then trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance. All of this normally takes one to two hours depending on the number of layers involved. And since the resin comes in many shades, Dr. Sajoo can match it to your natural teeth.

Among the major advantages of bonding is its durability and ease of application. As they expand and contract like your teeth, composite bonding does not suffer from cracking and ultimate separation from the tooth. Consequently, they last longer than metal based applications. In many cases, the composite resin serves to strengthen the structure of a previously decayed tooth since it bonds directly to the tooth. Finally, the entire tooth transformation can be customized in during a single visit.

On average, bonding typically lasts three to five years before need of repair. In comparison to veneers and porcelain crowns, however, please be aware that bonding will absorb more stains, become more dull looking, and incur more wear over time especially if you smoke.