Composite Bonding

Composite Bonding, sometimes called Dental Bonding or teeth bonding, is a cosmetic dentistry treatment used to enhance your smile. During the procedure, your dentist applies tooth-coloured resin material to the affected teeth to change their shape, size or colour.

The same composite resin material used in composite bonding is also used in restorative dentistry to fill cavities, replace old silver dental fillings and protect teeth roots that have been exposed due to gum recession.

Composite bonding is best suited for teeth that have suffered minor injuries and aren’t severely decayed.

If you have lost a tooth (or most of a tooth) or the tooth is severely damaged, you will be advised to have a dental implant over bonding. Dental implants replace the tooth and root entirely with an implant and a porcelain crown.

Additionally, composite bonding is best for people who are already happy with the colour of their teeth. If you have always wanted to whiten your teeth, you will need to do it before you ask your dentist for composite bonding. 

Composite bonding is an in-and-out procedure that usually only requires one appointment. 

The first stage involves choosing a composite resin colour that’s as close as possible to the colour of your tooth. Your dentist will use a chart to make sure their choice is correct.

Then, the dentist prepares to bond the composite resin to your existing tooth. They start by creating a rough surface and applying a bonding agent. The rough surface makes it easier for the liquid and the composite to stick.

Your dentist then adds the composite resin to the area and then moulds it to repair the damage.

Everything then drives with a UV light.

Composite bonding usually isn’t painful because your dentist won’t be working anywhere close to the pain-sensing nerve inside your tooth. In most cases, anaesthesia isn’t even necessary during composite bonding. Some people may experience temporary sensitivity after their composite bonding procedure. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease this discomfort.

It takes half an hour to an hour per tooth to ensure that the adhesion, shaping, and finishing of the composite resin is done correctly. Several appointments may be needed if more than one tooth is being repaired.

Composite bonding offers many benefits compared to other cosmetic treatments. The procedure is:

• Minimally invasive. While porcelain veneers and dental crowns require significant tooth alteration, composite bonding typically doesn’t require enamel removal.
• Cost-effective. Composite bonding is one of the least expensive cosmetic dental procedures available.
• Versatile. Dental bonding can conceal a wide range of cosmetic imperfections, including chips, cracks, gaps and discolouration.
• Fast and convenient. Other cosmetic procedures, like veneers and crowns, require multiple appointments. Dental bonding can be completed in just one visit.

Although composite bonding material is somewhat stain-resistant, it doesn’t resist stains as well as porcelain restorations. Another disadvantage is that bonding isn’t as long-lasting as other restorative options, such as veneers or crowns. Also, bonding materials can chip over time.

In general, composite bonding is an excellent solution for making small cosmetic changes. If you’re looking for a more dramatic transformation, you may be better suited for other treatments, such as porcelain veneers.

If you have chips, cracks, discolouration or other concerns about the way your teeth look, schedule an appointment at any of our clinics in Benson or Kingsclere. We would be more than happy to carry out a check-up of your teeth to assess whether cosmetic bonding would be appropriate for you.