Dental Bonding Dickson, TN

Cosmetic bonding is one of the simplest and most cost-effective treatments to improve the look of a smile. By applying a tooth-colored composite resin material to one or more teeth, the dentists of Dr. Dave’s Healthy Smiles can add or improve the structure of the teeth so they are more attractive and uniform. The bonding material can also conceal superficial imperfections affecting tooth shape, size or color.

Bonding can be performed on its own or combined with another cosmetic dentistry treatment like teeth whitening or the placement of porcelain veneers during a smile makeover.

What Can Bonding Improve?

Dental bonding is extremely versatile and can be used to make many different types of small cosmetic changes (primarily to teeth in areas with low bite pressure, like the front teeth).

Specifically, bonding is often used to improve the appearance of:

• Discolored or stained teeth that do not respond to teeth whitening treatment
• Slightly chipped or cracked teeth
• Misshapen teeth (i.e., teeth that are too short or too narrow)
• Small spaces between the teeth (diastema)
• Exposed tooth roots due to receding gums

Bonding has several notable advantages over other cosmetic dentistry options like veneers. Most notably, bonding can be completed in a single appointment, unlike veneers, which must be made by an outside dental laboratory. Bonding also requires very little tooth structure to be removed, so it is better for the long-term health and strength of the tooth.

Bonding Treatment Details

Bonding is a minimally invasive and quick procedure that can be completed in a single appointment. Normally anesthesia does not need to be used, except in special circumstances.

After determining the tooth or teeth that need to be bonded, the dentist uses a shade guide to select the composite resin material. The chosen material should blend in seamlessly with the natural tooth structure.

To begin the bonding process, the dentist lightly etches or abrades the tooth surface and applies a conditioning liquid to help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. Next, the dentist applies the composite resin material to the tooth; it is similar to a putty material. The dentist carefully shapes and molds the material as needed to camouflage dental flaws or create a more beautiful tooth, smoothing the material along the way. Then, the dentist hardens or cures the bonding material, trimming and shaping it to refine the results. The dentist finishes by polishing the bonded section of the tooth so it looks translucent like the rest of the tooth surface.

Bonded teeth can be brushed and flossed normally, and should be checked by a dentist every six months to a year. The composite resin material is strong, but not impenetrable. It can chip, crack or fall off if the bonded tooth bites into a hard material like a piece of ice or a pen cap. With the proper care and attention, the results of dental bonding normally last several years.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

For more information about dental bonding and other cosmetic dentistry treatments Dr. Dave’s Healthy Smiles offers, please contact us. You can reach us by calling our Dickson office at 615-813-4303.