What You Should Know About Bonding

July 17th, 2018 Posted by Uncategorized No Comment yet

Dental bonding is a restoration process that is completely painless and effective. It can be used to make minor reparations to teeth that are affected by decay or damaged, cracked or chipped.

The procedure is done using a tooth-colored material and typically, your Walnut Creek cosmetic dentist will be able to bond several teeth during the same dental visit.

The bonding agent is usually made from a composite or porcelain resin, which is applied to the damaged tooth, shaped and then hardened by being exposed to an ultraviolet light.

Let’s look at a few important things that you should know about bonding.

 

The Benefits of Bonding

Some of the benefits of using a composite resin are that the color can be matched to the existing color of your teeth. This means that the bond will be virtually unnoticeable to other people.

The resin can also be sculpted to look like a missing piece of a tooth or it can be used to “build up” teeth and fill gaps in between them.

Furthermore, the composite resin can be used on a broken tooth to restore it to its original size. Lastly, bonding can be used to “paint” over a stained tooth to match it the rest of your teeth.

 

How Bonding is Done

To begin with, your dentist will place a small guard between the affected tooth and its adjacent teeth. This protects neighboring teeth during the procedure and ensures that they are unaffected by the resin.

Before the bonding agent can be applied, your dentist will likely apply a mild chemical to the tooth in question. This is meant to “roughen” the surface of your tooth and will help the resin adhere, or bond, to it. At this point, your dentist will compare the color of your natural teeth and choose a composite resin that is similar in color.

Next, your dentist will begin applying the composite resin one layer at a time. He or she will use an ultraviolet light to harden the resin as they progress. Then, after applying the final layer of resin, your dentist will shape it and polish the bond until it looks identical and is indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

The finished product should look natural and be smooth like a regular tooth. If there are any jagged spots, just be sure to mention it to your dentist. He or she will be able to easily smooth out whatever irregularities are bothering you.

During your next visit, your dentist will check to make sure that the bonding has set properly and will polish it up if needed. While bonding is meant to last for years, over time, the bonding may break down and need to be touched up occasionally by your dentist.

If you’re interested in learning more about bonding, be sure to take a few minutes and discuss the procedure with your Walnut Creek cosmetic dentist at your next visit. Call our office today at (925) 937-9017 to schedule your appointment or consultation.

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