Tooth Bonding To Improve Your Smile

Tooth Bonding: Improve Your Smile After Whitening

Tooth bonding, also known as dental bonding, can be used to remove any gaps or imperfections in your teeth to a greatly improve your smile, particularly after a whitening treatment. Tooth bonding is a dental procedure that involves the application of a teeth-colored plastic composite to one or several teeth. It is then hardened with a ultraviolet laser light to appear indistinguishable from the actual tooth. The procedure is used to fill in wide spaces or gaps between teeth or to repair a chipped, fractured, decayed, discolored or damaged tooth. The purpose of a dental bonding is usually to fill in physical damage or structural abnormalities. Though it is usually used cosmetically, in some cases it can be used in place of a filling or to protect a receding gumline.

Keep in mind that the color of the bonding resin cannot be changed after it is finished so it should always be performed after your full whitening treatment, not before. Of course, teeth whitening is entirely independent from tooth bonding so depending on your teeth, it may not be needed at all. Bonding is an effective but simple and relatively inexpensive dental procedure that can greatly improve the attractiveness of your teeth and smile. The average cost for dental tooth bonding ranges from $300 to $600 for each tooth but can sometimes be covered by an insurance plan.

No preparation is required for dental bonding, it is usually completely painless and rarely requires anesthetics. A single tooth should take no more than a 1-hour visit (usually less) but multiple teeth bonding procedures may take several visits. When finished, a tooth bonding will generally last several years before needing repair but this also greatly depends on the specific operation and the care afterward. In some cases it can last well over a decade.

Dental Bonding vs Veneer

Dental bonding is similar to dental veneers but a veneer is often made of much stronger porcelain that can last 10-30 years. A veneer (sometimes called a dental porcelain laminate), is a much bigger operation because it is first fabricated in a dental laboratory before being bonded to the tooth whereas dental bonding is performed directly on the tooth. Also, a dental veneer is considerably more costly, usually ranging from $1000 to $2500 per tooth.

Who Is Tooth Bonding Ideal For?

Tooth bonding is particularly ideal for anyone who has a misshapen tooth or undesirable gap between one or more teeth. As stated previously, it should be performed after a whitening procedure, not before, in order to remain consistent with your teeth color. Also be aware that certain abrasives in some whitening toothpastes can damage bonding resin and veneers. These whitening toothpastes should be avoided if you have dental bonding or veneers.

As a dental procedure, bonding is considerably more expensive than any at-home teeth whitening treatments but if you have one or more significant gaps or physical imperfections in your teeth then tooth bonding may be a great solution for you.