What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding involves utilizing composite resin, the same material used for composite fillings, to sculpt a tooth. Through a procedure called Bonded Restoration, teeth that have chips, cracks, or fractures can be reconstructed using composite resin, restoring them to a pristine condition. With regular maintenance, this repair can last for an extended period. Additionally, dental bonding serves the purpose of enhancing the visual charm of a smile by reshaping teeth, rectifying color imperfections, and closing gaps, all without the necessity of veneers or orthodontic treatments.
The Process Of Dental Bonding
Regardless of whether you’re opting for dental bonding to restore a damaged tooth or solely for aesthetic purposes, the procedure remains consistent. Here’s an overview of what you can anticipate during your dental bonding appointment:
Prepping The Tooth
To begin, a dental matrix, a thin plastic film, is placed between your neighboring teeth to safeguard them during the procedure. This protective layer prevents any preparation gel or composite resin from affecting the adjacent tooth. Afterward, your dentist will meticulously clean and dry the targeted tooth and briefly apply a mildly acidic gel to create a rough surface for the bonding material to adhere to.
Applying Composite Resin
After cleaning away the acidic gel and ensuring the tooth is dry once more, the dentist proceeds with the application of composite resin. To achieve a natural-looking finish, a resin matching the color of your teeth is carefully selected. The composite resin is then applied in layers, and each layer is cured using a special blue light, ensuring maximum strength and durability.
Final Touches
With your bite checked and adjustments made, your dental bonding procedure is now finished. As a final step, the dentist will polish your tooth to perfection. Once complete, your bonded tooth will boast a beautiful and natural appearance, possibly even making it difficult to remember which tooth was repaired. Rest assured, we will record this treatment in your chart, and during your subsequent examinations, the dentist will provide special attention to the bonded tooth, ensuring it remains in excellent condition without any signs of wear and tear.
Dental Bonding Against Other Options?
Dental bonding involves utilizing composite resin, the same material used for composite fillings, to sculpt a tooth. Through a procedure called Bonded Restoration, teeth that have chips, cracks, or fractures can be reconstructed using composite resin, restoring them to a pristine condition. With regular maintenance, this repair can last for an extended period. Additionally, dental bonding serves the purpose of enhancing the visual charm of a smile by reshaping teeth, rectifying color imperfections, and closing gaps, all without the necessity of veneers or orthodontic treatments.
Fast and Painless
Dental fillings and veneers typically involve some degree of drilling to prepare the tooth for treatment, but dental bonding is an exception to this rule. The preparation process for dental bonding involves minimal, if any, removal of your natural tooth structure, resulting in an almost entirely painless procedure.
Low Costs Upfront
When it comes to dental treatments, the cost tends to increase for more extensive procedures like dental veneers and orthodontics. This is reasonable since significant and transformative changes often require personalized treatment plans of greater complexity. On the other hand, for minor alterations involving just a few teeth, dental bonding offers a straightforward and cost-effective solution.
Great For Tiny Repairs
It’s worth emphasizing: if you have ambitious aspirations for significant smile enhancements, a comprehensive treatment plan involving dental veneers, crowns, or orthodontics could be the ideal approach for you. However, if you require minor adjustments, dental bonding stands out as the simplest and most suitable solution.
The Cost Of Dental Bonding In Wake Forest
Providing a precise estimate for dental bonding proves challenging due to its wide range of applications. To offer a more accurate estimate, we would need to learn about your specific needs and examine your teeth. However, as a general guideline, dental bonding typically costs around $300 to $600 or more per tooth without insurance. Fortunately, most insurance companies cover dental bonding, especially when it’s necessary to restore a broken or damaged tooth. With insurance coverage, your out-of-pocket expense is usually around $60 to $120.
When determining the cost of your dental bonding treatment, several essential factors are considered:
- The number of teeth requiring bonding.
- Whether new x-rays are needed.
- The quantity of composite resin necessary to complete the treatment.
- The location of the affected teeth within your mouth.
- Your current overall oral health.
Please bear in mind that providing an accurate quote over the phone is not possible. We warmly welcome you to visit us for an examination, during which we can provide you with a precise quote in person, enabling you to make an informed decision about your final costs.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
The durability of dental bonding can vary based on factors such as its precise location, your eating habits, and overall routine oral hygiene. On average, dental bonding can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years or even longer. Regular dental exams will allow your dentist to detect any wear and tear, and if needed, additional composite resin can be applied to maintain the strength of your dental bonding.
While bonding is not considered a permanent fix, it is exceptionally long-lasting. With proper dental care, healthy eating habits, and regular exams, dental bonding can endure for over a decade. Should you notice any wear and tear, reinforcing the bonding with additional composite resin can easily address the issue.
Dental veneers and dental bonding represent two distinct procedures. Dental veneers are an optimal choice for long-term results and ideal for patients seeking extensive or dramatic smile transformations. On the other hand, dental bonding offers a cost-efficient solution for minor changes, with a shorter lifespan. Moreover, it stands out as a less invasive option, as minimal alteration of the natural tooth is required.
Dental bonding presents minimal risks, as it preserves the majority, if not all, of your natural tooth structure underneath. While the bonding itself may experience chipping or breakage over time, repairs can be easily made. A common concern among patients is that dental bonding does not lighten with teeth whitening. If you desire whiter teeth, you can opt to undergo teeth whitening before getting dental bonding or have the bonding replaced to match your natural teeth after a whitening treatment. For those seeking enhanced durability, dental veneers or crowns are worth considering, as they offer greater strength and longevity.
