Chesterfield Bonding

Tooth bonding, or dental bonding, is one of the simplest cosmetic treatments available. It’s mainly designed to improve the overall appearance of discolored or chipped teeth or to protect a proportion of a tooth root when the gum has receded. However dental bonding can also be used to give the illusion of closing spaces between teeth and changing their shape so that they appear more evenly balanced.

Bonding is carried out in the comfort of the dental office and gets its name because a resin-like material is ‘bonded’ to the surface of the tooth which forms a newer, more attractive tooth layer. The advantages of this particular treatment are that it’s a cost-effective method of restoring your smile and what’s more, the procedure is both quick and painless.

So what’s involved?

The preparation

Before starting treatment and to achieve the best possible results, Dr Akinwande ensures that the color of the composite resin matches your teeth with the aid of a shade selector. Next a small dental tool is used to roughen the surface of the tooth, after which a small amount of conditioning liquid is applied. Both these processes help the bonding to adhere to the tooth.

The bonding process

After several minutes the tooth-colored resin is applied. This is a putty-like substance that can be molded and smoothed into the desired shape or area. Once the bonding material has been molded into shape, an ultraviolet light or laser is used to rapidly harden the material. Once the bond is hardened, it’s then given a final trim to ensure the perfect shape. Finally it’s polished and buffed to blend in seamlessly with your existing teeth. The entire procedure from start to finish takes around 30-60 minutes per tooth making it one of the quickest cosmetic dental procedures available.

Advantages of dental bonding

Unlike other forms of customized tooth covers such as dental veneers or crowns that have to be designed in a dental lab, dental bonding is created chair-side. As such an entire treatment can be carried out during one single office visit. In addition, unlike dental veneers or crowns, only a tiny amount of the tooth is removed so dental anesthetic is not normally needed. Ultimately this is an easy treatment, ideal for anxious dental patients who might otherwise panic at the thought of sitting in the dental chair for any length of time.

Dental bonding is usually recommended for small cosmetic changes or for the correction of teeth that have a low bite pressure such as the front teeth, and for this it works extremely well. If you’re unhappy about a badly discolored or chipped tooth then come and talk to Chesterfield Dentistry about cosmetic dental bonding today. To book an appointment contact us on (314) 469 6429