Many people with chipped teeth, gaps, broken fillings, or require immediate tooth repair fix these dental problems with dental bonding. Tooth bonding is quick, affordable, and offers long-lasting results. If you are learning about this cosmetic dental procedure for the first time or want to learn more, you could have many questions. Whenever you are on your dental repair journey, the friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced dental team at Beach Dental Care Anaheim can guide you and determine whether you are an ideal candidate. We can also help you understand how to best prepare for the procedure, what to expect, and how to maintain your beautiful smile.
A Brief Overview of Tooth Bonding
Also known as composite bonding, bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that enhances a smile. The treatment uses resin material to:
- Hide cracks or chips in teeth.
- Camouflage teeth discoloration.
- Change your teeth’s shape.
- Close spaces and gaps between teeth.
- Change your teeth’s shape.
- Make a tooth look longer.
Your dentist can also use bonding material in restorative dentistry to:
- Fill your cavities.
- Protect your teeth roots after gum recession.
- Replace old dental fillings with an alternative.
Pros of Bonding
Cosmetic tooth bonding has several advantages over other cosmetic procedures. For example, the treatment is:
- Pocket-friendly.
- Minimally invasive — Unlike dental crowns and porcelain veneers that require tooth changes, dental bonding does not need enamel removal.
- Versatile — The procedure can conceal numerous cosmetic imperfections like discoloration, gaps, cracks, and chips.
- Convenient and fast — Your dentist can complete the procedure in a single office appointment unless many teeth require treatment.
- Unless tooth bonding is used to fill cavities, anesthesia is not required.
Cons of Tooth Bonding
The disadvantages of this treatment include the following:
- The bonding material is not stain-resistant.
- Compared to crowns and veneers, tooth bonding is not long-lasting. Additionally, the bonding material can chip over time.
Due to these disadvantages, some dentists consider tooth bonding a perfect solution for minor cosmetic changes, temporary correction of issues, and rectifying teeth in regions of low bite pressure like front teeth. Please consult your skilled doctor to learn about the most effective cosmetic option.
Will Dental Bonding Damage Your Teeth?
No. Your seasoned dentist uses the utmost care and experience to determine the most effective dental procedure to repair your damaged tooth. Dental bonding fixes the damage that can damage your tooth and result in discomfort.
After the dental work is done, your tooth structure is restored to almost 100%. Your repaired tooth structure should withstand your chewing and biting pressure without compromising the tooth or the adjacent tooth that comes into contact when you chew.
Is It Safe to Have Dental Bonding During Pregnancy?
Yes.
Any seasoned dentist at Beach Dental Care Anaheim will tell you that expectant mothers ask whether they should have dental bonding during pregnancy. All preventative dental treatments, including twice-annual professional examinations and cleaning, are safe and recommended. The rise in hormonal levels during pregnancy can cause your gums to bleed, swell, and trap food particles causing increased gum irritation.
Moreover, dental bonding can prevent oral infections like gum disease that can cause preterm births. All dental procedures deemed essential to lower the possibility of spreading infection are crucial and will not adversely impact your pregnancy.
What to Expect During Dental Bonding
There are aspects to remember if considering bonding. The treatment is effective in mouth regions with low bite pressure, like the front teeth. Also, it works best on teeth requiring minor repairs.
You do not have to figure this out on your own. Your competent dentist can explore the cosmetic option and take quality time to understand your cosmetic objectives and goals. Moreover, they will conduct dental diagnostic imaging to examine your gums and teeth and ensure you qualify for this treatment. Before bonding material placement, you should treat severe oral health conditions, like serious tooth decay or gum disease.
Before the procedure, you should brush your teeth. It maximizes the efficiency of your dental examination.
During the process, the dentist will:
- Choose a shade — The dental expert will use a shade guide to help you choose a composite resin material that blends and complement your natural teeth’s color.
- Preparing your tooth — This step involves roughening your tooth surface and applying a conditioning liquid. It assists your bonding material in adhering to the tooth.
- Applying the composite resin material — The dentist applies the composite resin material and molds it before smoothening it to your desired shape.
- Curing the material — The resin material is then hardened using a curing light that bonds the resin material to your tooth’s surface.
- Polish the tooth — Finally, the doctor will make all the essential final adjustments before polishing your tooth, giving it a natural look and shine.
Typically, your dentist will take approximately thirty to sixty minutes to complete the work per tooth.
The dental process is not painful since the dentist does not work anywhere near the pain-sensitive nerves in your mouth. Therefore, anesthesia is not necessary in most cases.
How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?
Typically, dental bonding lasts between three (3) and ten (10) years. The lifespan depends mainly on maintaining oral hygiene and avoiding damaging the bonded teeth. Other factors include where the bonding was placed and how much your dentist placed it.
Your dental bonding does not require special care. All you need to do is follow the following dental hygiene practices to enhance their longevity.
Brush Your Teeth Appropriately
While it is widely known that you should brush your teeth twice daily, most people do not brush at night. Brushing before bed removes all plaque and germs accumulated throughout the day.
How you brush your teeth is equally essential. Poor teeth brushing is as bad as not brushing. Brushing washes out all particles that could eat away your teeth and cause cavities. Brush your teeth for two minutes. However, you should not brush your teeth for more than four minutes. Move your soft-bristled toothbrush gently in circular motions, taking care of all teeth on the top, front, and back. Avoid sawing back-and-forth motions.
Regarding toothpaste, there are more vital elements to consider than flavors and whitening. Whatever your preferred version, ensure it has fluoride. Fluoride protects against cavities and tooth decay since it fights germs and offers a barrier for teeth and dental bonding.
Floss Daily
Most people who brush regularly disregard flossing. Flossing goes beyond removing food debris that sticks between the teeth. It is an effective method to stimulate your gums, lower inflammation, and reduce plaque.
Make it a habit to floss once a day.
Sometimes flossing can be challenging, especially for seniors with arthritis and younger children. Instead, look for ready-to-use dental flossers.
Use a Mouthwash
Mouthwash is not a substitute for flossing and brushing. However, if you have trouble brushing and flossing, rinsing can protect your teeth and dental bonding from decay and damage.
Whether you swish with mouthwash before or after flossing and brushing does not matter. Do it for thirty to sixty seconds. Less than 30 seconds probably will not do much, while a minute is more than adequate.
Mouthwash contains high volumes of fluoride and alcohol. Both ingredients should not be ingested in high amounts, particularly by minors. Consequently, the American Dental Association does not recommend children under six use mouthwash.
You should not make swallowing mouthwash a habit.
Do Not Brush Too Often
Brushing too often can damage the gums, dental bonding, and your teeth’s enamel. Therefore, brushing twice a day is adequate.
Instead, rinse your mouth with water after meals and snacks. Do vigorous swishing, forcing the water between your teeth to dislodge food particles.
Do Not Linger Over Sipping Sugary Beverages
If you have a sugary beverage like sweetened tea, coffee with cream, or soda, it is better to drink it at once instead of sipping it throughout the day.
When your mouth is constantly exposed to sugar, mouth bacteria use the sugar as a food source and metabolize it into lactic acid. The lactic acid can dissolve your teeth’s minerals, forming cavities.
Visit Your Cosmetic Dentist Often
Most dentists recommend seeing patients every six months for a dental check-up. The expert will clean their teeth and remove plaque and tartar. They will check whether the bonding is okay and advise you accordingly.
You can enquire from your dentist how often you require a checkup. The answer depends on your age, oral health, and medical history.
Stop Smoking
Your dental bonding material is porous. Tar from smoking is dark, sticks to your teeth, and can change the color of your bonding to yellow or brown.
Prevent Teeth Grinding
Bruxism means clenching and grinding your teeth, especially when sleeping. Your jaw exerts a lot of force that can cause your healthy teeth to chip and crack. If bruxism can damage your teeth, it can also damage your dental bonding.
If you believe you suffer from this condition, please consult your dental expert for treatment and prevention.
Wearing a night guard appliance is one method of dealing with the condition. The device fits over your teeth and protects them from excessive pressure and force.
Your dentist can also recommend orthodontic treatment if you have severe malocclusion and misalignment.
Avoid Hard Foods
You should be careful with hard foods like candy and nuts. That is not to say you should not eat these foods, but you should know that using the bonded teeth to bite into them can damage the resin material. Consequently, ensure you use only your back molars to chew when eating the foods.
Other bonding maintenance tips include:
- Avoid biting your fingernails, chewing on your pen or ice, or using your teeth to tear things open.
- Eating healthy foods.
- Avoiding tooth-staining drinks and foods.
- If you notice sharp edges on your bonded teeth or if the teeth feel odd when you bite down, consult your dentist immediately.
How to Know You Should Replace Your Dental Bonding
Dental bonding should feel and look like natural, healthy teeth. You should replace yours if you notice differences in the feeling and appearance. For instance, you should replace discolored or stained bonding to restore a glowing smile and enhance confidence. You should call your dentist if you notice sharp or lifted corners. Additionally, changes in your bite could mean the bonding is loose.
You should not ignore signs of worn or broken bonding. Your loose resin can chip your natural teeth or leave them at an increased risk of other oral damage like restoration failure or tooth decay. Bonding stains on your front teeth can have an impact on your appearance and self-esteem.
Your dentist should carefully examine your bonding and clean the region before replacing it with new bonding material.
If you cannot seek immediate medical attention, follow the following steps to lower the risk of infection:
- Rinse the mouth with warm salty water
- Avoid swallowing young dental bonding material
Veneers Vs. Dental Bonding— What is the Difference?
You will find many procedures when contemplating cosmetic dentistry to enhance your smile, brighten discolored teeth, or fix gaps or chips in the teeth. Two common treatments include dental bonding and veneers.
Dentists at Beach Dental Care Anaheim expect you to ask us questions regarding investing in a smile makeover and appearance. While this section discusses the difference between the two, a consultation with our knowledgeable cosmetic dentist can assist you in making informed decisions on what suits your smile, dental goals, oral health condition, and budget.
Bonding uses a soft resin material applied to your teeth. On the other hand, veneers are thin porcelain shells attached to the front of your teeth. Veneers require the removal of some enamel to secure them, while bonding fills in the patient’s teeth in specific regions. Some patients experience increased sensitivity with porcelain veneers due to the removed enamel but prefer how it looks over bonding.
Veneers are more expensive than bonding. Since the former treatment option is permanent, it can save you money in the long run compared to the bonding, which can chip, break, or eventually be replaced. If you want to conceal stains that teeth whitening cannot fix, then veneers are the ideal solution. Bonding is perfect for repairing gaps and chips.
Usually, veneers last ten to twenty-five years with proper oral care, and it is not uncommon for them to last even longer. In contrast, bonding can last up to ten years. While bonding is more affordable than veneers, veneer treatment can be more cost-effective in the long term, given the longer treatment lifespan.
With bonding, you receive immediate results. The procedure takes one appointment, and the dentist can treat several teeth in a single dental consultation. In contrast, veneers take at least two appointments for two to three weeks.
Both treatment options blend in with the color of your natural teeth. However, veneers are made of stain-resistant ceramic material, while bonding material can darken over time.
Tooth bonding is a safe and non-invasive solution for minor but crucial repairs. If you are exploring this option, an evening in your dentist’s office and a little patience could help you make the right decision.
Dental Bonding Costs
Typically, tooth bonding costs between $100 and $400 per tooth. The cost varies for every patient and depends on many factors, including the dental office location and the amount of work to be done during preparation.
Do Insurance Companies Cover Tooth Bonding?
Insurers do not cover bonding deemed a cosmetic dental procedure like filling a gap.
However, the insurance provider can cover your treatment if it is needed for oral health. For instance, the firm can cover the tooth bonding costs if you want to fix a chipped or broken tooth.
Ensure you confirm with your insurer to learn if they insure the procedure before scheduling your dental appointment.
Alternative Methods to Pay for the Tooth Bonding
Other methods to pay for your treatment include:
- Take advantage of a dental discount plan —A dental saving plan is a flexible and affordable alternative to dental health insurance. Members receive discounts on their dental treatment and can save up to 60%. Once you join the dental discount plan, you can visit a network of dentists who offer discounted costs to members and pay the discounted fees.
- Payment plan — You can organize a payment plan with your dentist. A payment plan allows you to distribute your procedure’s cost, making treatment more affordable. You should make monthly payments.
Find a Skilled Cosmetic Anaheim Dental Practice Near Me
Dental bonding is a cost-effective procedure that can address many cosmetic issues and imperfections. If you are self-conscious about your smile and teeth due to gaps between the teeth and minor chips, the compassionate team at Beach Dental Care Anaheim can work with you to improve your look and self-esteem. Bonding is a straightforward procedure that your dentist can complete in an hour at their office and does not require exceptional after-care.
Please contact us at 714-995-40000 to learn how we can help you achieve your dream smile and maintain healthy oral health.
