Have you ever chipped your tooth and been embarrassed by your smile? Well, no need to worry because an easy and affordable solution exists! Esthetic bonding is a cosmetic procedure that can be used to fix teeth that are chipped, decayed, or otherwise damaged so that you can restore your smile.

How is esthetic bonding different from other cosmetic dental procedures?

Compared to other cosmetic procedures, esthetic bonding is usually the easiest, fastest, and most affordable treatment available. If you were to consider getting a porcelain veneer or crown it would take more than one appointment and be significantly more expensive. Crowns and veneers require the tooth to be prepared, for impressions to be taken, and then for that impression to be sent to a lab so that it can be made. Then comes the wait for the finished product and the visits in between to ensure that the fit is right if you’re getting a crown. By contrast, the entire esthetic bonding procedure can be done from start to finish in one short visit. In an out in an hour with your new and improved smile!

How is esthetic bonding done?

Esthetic bonding uses composite resin material as its restorative material, but your tooth must be prepared first. This preparation involves using a special conditioner solution to ‘etch’ or roughen up your tooth so that the resin will adhere to it more strongly. Although the verb ‘etching’ may sound unusual, it is completely predictable and painless procedure that is followed by rinsing off the etching material ( the conditioner), after which an adhesive is applied.

Your dentist will then use a resin that most closely matches the natural color of your tooth (chosen using a shade guide) to restore your tooth. The resin is applied to the tooth in increments, and because it is malleable, it can be manipulated into the desired size, shape, and thickness by the dentist. An ultraviolet light is used to ‘cure’ or harden the composite and the process is repeated until the tooth has been satisfactorily restored. When this is completed, the dentist will contour and polish the restoration so that blends in with and matches the adjacent tooth. Though the length of time for the procedure may vary, it usually does not take more than an hour and oftentimes.

Advantages and uses of esthetic bonding

Esthetic bonding is not only easy, fast, and affordable, but it is also virtually painless, as most times the procedure does not require the use of anesthesia. Also, whereas crowns and veneers require the removal of tooth structure, esthetic bonding does not.

Since the composite resin is used to cover the tooth surface, esthetic bonding has been used for a variety of cosmetic scenarios including:

• fixing the appearance of stained or discolored teeth
•  restoring cracks, chips, or fractures
• closing gaps between teeth
•  lengthening teeth that are short to match adjacent teeth
•  In cases of crowding where teeth can be ‘built up’ so that their alignment appears to be adjusted

If you have any of these problems, contact your dentist today to see if esthetic bonding is right for you.

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The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical and dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical and dental advice/conditions.