Composite bonding is one of the most affordable procedures performed during a smile makeover. The process involves permanently attaching composite resin to a patient’s teeth using a high-intensity curing light.
Most people have received a treatment that involves dental bonding at some point in their lives. It can be in the form of a restoration such as a dental crown, onlay, inlay or veneer being cemented to a tooth, or a composite being directly applied to a tooth.
The goal of smile makeover treatments is to improve the way a patient’s smile looks. It usually involves some combination of dental treatments like:
- Veneers
- Crowns
- Dental bonding
- Teeth whitening
- Gum reshaping
- Teeth straightening
How composite bonding is used during smile makeover treatments
Composite bonding is often performed during smile makeovers since it can be used to fix a variety of problems and it is the most affordable treatment used during smile makeovers. It can be used to correct problems like:
- Stains that are non-responsive to whitening treatments
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Deformed teeth
Composite resins can be color-matched with the rest of the patient’s teeth so the newly-restored tooth does not look much different from the others. The process takes about 45 minutes per tooth and the patient gets instant results.
What to expect when getting composite bonding
Composite bonding is one of the least invasive treatments used for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. It does not require any permanent alterations to be made to the tooth during treatment, so the patient is free to explore other options later on if needed. Restorations like veneers and crowns require the removal of enamel which permanently changes a tooth’s structure and creates a need to always have some restoration protecting it.
Anesthetics are rarely used during dental bonding unless the composite is being used to tackle tooth decay. The dentist prepares the patient’s tooth for the composite by applying an etching solution to it. This roughens up the tooth’s surface, making it easier for the composite to adhere to it.
The dentist will apply the putty-like composite directly to the patient’s teeth. This is usually done in layers to create a more durable composite. The composite is molded as desired and it is hardened with a curing light. The dentist finishes up the procedure by polishing the restored tooth so it shines just like a natural tooth.
There is no recovery period after getting dental bonding. The patient is free to go back to their daily routine and they should be able to drive themselves home if a local anesthetic was not used. The patient leaves with their cosmetic issues being resolved. Teeth that have been restored with composites do not need special care, but good oral hygiene helps to increase the longevity of the composite. Restorations made with dental bonding last two to five years on average.
Ready to fix your smile with dental bonding?
Call or visit our Hutto clinic to learn more about how composite bonding can be part of your smile makeover.
Request an appointment here: https://www.adchutto.com or call Advanced Dental Care of Hutto at (512) 846-2011 for an appointment in our Hutto office.
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Call our Hutto office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.
