Dental Bonding Before and After: A Quick and Easy Guide
A healthy smile is more than a confidence booster. It can improve your dating life, your professional advancement, and more! And you don’t need extensive dental work to achieve a better-looking smile.
If your tooth gets a chip, crack, or discoloration, you'll want to learn more about dental bonding. Before and after shots will show you the incredible results so you can be confident smiling your brightest smile.
You don't need irreversible work or invasive procedures to improve your smile. Tooth bonding is a great way to improve the natural beauty of your pearly whites. Also called esthetic bonding, cosmetic bonding, or dental bonding, tooth bonding is a simple and cost-effective option to repair your teeth.
It's also growing in popularity because it’s much less expensive than procedures like crowns and veneers. The bonding process also preserves healthy tooth structure and enamel.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a common procedure for cosmetic issues like:
Cracked teeth
Misshapen teeth
Decayed teeth
Discolored teeth
Small gaps between teeth
In addition to the cosmetic benefits of tooth bonding, this is an easy and relatively inexpensive alternative to address minor imperfections and tooth damage.
How it works
Tooth bonding is a quick dental procedure that usually takes just 30-60 minutes. Unless you're also filling a cavity, there's no need for anesthesia. Usually, you can take care of it with just one trip to the dentist!
Your dentist will use a shade guide to select a composite resin color. This color will match the color of your natural teeth as closely as possible. Next, they'll roughen the surface of your tooth, and apply a liquid that helps the bonding agent stick to your tooth. Then they will apply the composite resin over the liquid.
Your dentist will shape the tooth and harden the material with ultraviolet or high-intensity light in the final steps. A dentist can also make shape adjustments after the resin is hard.
Some people who are considering bonding, like changing the shape of a tooth, can benefit from a short initial appointment for study models and planning. It’s a good idea to talk to your dentist about a personalized plan so you know what to expect for your dental bonding, before and after.
Benefits of Tooth Bonding
It’s a simple way to correct malformed teeth that occur naturally, like an uneven bite. It’s also an effective way to minimize damage and protect a damaged tooth. For example, athletes of all ages often suffer from chipped or cracked teeth, and this is a quick and relatively painless way to fix a damaged tooth.
For many people, composite bonding front teeth is a great option that lets you leave the dentist with a winning pain-free smile. Tooth bonding can also help with broken dentin or enamel, protecting your teeth for many years.
Dental Bonding: Before and After
If you want an idea of the improvements to your smile before and after teeth bonding, take a look at our smile gallery! These before and after photos show you the results you could achieve. You can work with your dentist to choose the best procedure for you, but these are some common before and after teeth bonding tips.
Even though this is a simple procedure, you will feel better about this process if you do a few things to prepare. First, talk to your dentist and ask any questions you have. For example, if you have a history of tooth damage or decay, a crown or veneer may be better for you than tooth bonding.
Next, get an idea of what is possible for your specific situation. For example, bonding a chipped canine tooth can be a quicker fix than bonding front teeth.
If you’re planning a total smile makeover, remember that composite resin may not whiten. If you plan to whiten your teeth, try to do it before any tooth bonding. It's also a good idea to whiten your teeth at least two weeks prior to bonding so the whitening solution doesn’t interfere with the bonding agent.
Front Tooth Bonding for Misshapen Teeth
In front teeth bonding, how long it lasts will depend on your bite and your eating habits. If you make your front teeth do a lot of work, your tooth bonding may not last as long as other procedures. On average, tooth bonding will last 5-10 years.
Chipped Tooth Bonding
When you chip a tooth, bonding is a quick low-risk solution. Bonding a chipped tooth can also make teeth of different sizes appear more even, which gives you a chance to make a great first impression.
Crooked Teeth Bonding
This type of tooth bonding is most effective for a small number of crooked teeth. Bonding is also a great option to correct the shape of healthy teeth.
After Your Tooth Bonding
Bonded teeth aren't as strong as your natural teeth, so you'll want to take careful care of your new smile. If you have a hard bite you could break the bonding material off of your teeth. If you are a smoker or regularly drink coffee or red wine, the bonding material could stain.
To extend the life of a bonded tooth, it's essential to take care of your smile. Some ways that you can ensure a long-lasting smile with your bonded teeth include:
Brush your teeth twice a day
Floss daily
Avoid chewing hard candy, ice, and other hard foods
Avoid coffee, tea, and tobacco for at least two days following the procedure
Don't bite your nails or open packaging with your teeth
Schedule regular dental cleanings
Follow up with your dentist if you chip or break the bonding material. You should also let them know if you feel any rough or sharp edges on your bonded tooth.
Are your teeth discolored, chipped, or cracked? Do you have a gap you would like closed? If you’re looking for gorgeous and cost-effective tooth bonding, contact Gentry Dentistry for a smile makeover.