Categories: Dental Bonding

What You Should Know About Dental Bonding

The color and putty-like consistency of the materials used for dental bonding makes it a very versatile dental restoration. Bonding offers a quick, effective fix to minor problems like cavities, discoloration, small fractures, and chipped teeth.

If a dentist’s appointment is in the cards you should learn about dental bonding and its versatility. Keep reading to learn about its benefits and drawbacks.

About dental bonding

Dental bonding is a putty-like material that takes the form of any surface or space it occupies. It is a substance that largely consists of composite resin filler. The most common ingredient that goes into the resin is an acrylic compound. Dentists will sometimes alter the composition of the resin to match its application. As an example, a dentist will use dental adhesive to bond composite resin onto a tooth surface. They will use a slightly different formulation when they need to use the resin as a sealant. The way the dentist applies the bonding will also vary, depending on whether they are filling a gap or covering a tooth surface.

Uses of dental bonding

Composite resin has both cosmetic and restorative uses. In restorative dentistry, the semi-solid nature of dental bonding allows it to fill cavities and fractures. Dentists also use bonding for cosmetic applications like filling small gaps between teeth, increasing the size of a tooth that is small compared to its neighbors, and restoring the shape of a chipped tooth.

In the three cases above, bonding offers a quick facelift for the teeth. It typically takes a single session in the dentist’s chair to enjoy the full benefits of dental bonding. In as little as 30 minutes, a patient can walk out of the dentist’s office with a minor smile upgrade.

Benefits and drawbacks of dental bonding

The most obvious upside of dental bonding is cost savings, both in terms of time and money. Dental bonding usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes to apply. The procedure only requires a local anesthetic, allowing a patient to resume their daily schedule without the need for downtime.

Dental bonding is also customizable to match the color of an individual’s teeth. The material is versatile in that dentists will modify its composition depending on the patient’s needs. However, bonding has shortcomings like:

Dental bonding is not as tough as porcelain, metal, or other materials that dentists use for dental restorations
This means that dental bonding has a shorter lifespan in comparison to most dental materials
Bonding is also more susceptible to staining, and the stains are hard to remove

These are the tradeoffs that dentists will discuss with their patients when they recommend composite resin. The patient will have to make a decision that suits their circumstances at the time that they need dental work.

Call us if your smile could use a quick touchup

Using dental bonding, a dentist can restore the look, feel, and function of teeth. If you are interested in exploring dental bonding, get in touch with our dental office and book a consultation at a time that works for you.