Have you ever wondered what composite bonding is? This week we sat down with our aesthetics specialist Dr Rebecca Tonner, to get the answers to the seven most commonly asked questions around the topic.
- Okay so what dental problems can composite bonding solve?
“Composite bonding is a great cosmetic treatment that can be used for the following:
- Smile makeovers
- Improving the alignment of teeth
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Improving the shape, size and colour of teeth
- Repairing chipped or fractured teeth
- Restoring decayed teeth
- Treating worn down teeth”
- What is the procedure for composite bonding and how long does it take?
” Well, it’s actually a super straightforward procedure.
- you can upload a photo and I can give you a very good idea of what’s possible and answer any questions you have at @Dr. Rebecca.Tonner
- Or you can have a free consultation with me and we can chat about what you’d like and how I can help.
- At your appointment, your teeth are cleaned first to remove any debris. Then the tooth is etched with gel to roughen the tooth microscopically to allow a perfect bond to your tooth.
- I’ll then apply and sculpt the composite resin in layers to the desired shape and size, and finally set with a bright
- I then polish your bondings to look and feel like a natural tooth.
- Your bonding procedure involves one appointment with me and the process takes about an hour.”
- What is the difference between porcelain veneers and composite bonding?
“Ok, so composite bonding is a non-invasive cosmetic dental procedure compared to porcelain veneers. During your composite bonding procedure with me, I will apply the composite resin directly to your teeth reshaping them or closing-up gaps between them to create your smile makeover.
With porcelain veneers, generally we would need to remove a thin layer of tooth enamel. When the custom-made veneers are ready, we would fit them on your teeth, and the procedure requires more than one visit.
The benefit of composite bonding is that I can fix your smile without going through the removal of any tooth enamel.“
- What are the main advantages of composite bonding?
- “ They are a better restorative option for minor teeth problems.
- They are cheaper than porcelain veneers.
- There’s no anesthetic required
- The procedure involves no alteration to the teeth.
- Multiple teeth can be fixed in a single dental visit.
- Composite bonding improves the appearance of stained and discoloured teeth.
- You can alter the shape of your teeth to enhance your smile.
- They can be used to repair chipped or cracked teeth
- Composite bonding is considered to be more “reversible”, as it can be removed with no damage to the underlying tooth.”
- Are there any disadvantages to composite bonding?
- “They are more suitable for more minor corrections, than larger corrections which would typically require crowns or veneers.
- They are not as durable as porcelain veneers.
- You have to replace them after a period of time.
- They are not as stain-resistant as crowns and veneers
- The bonding material can break off the teeth if they’re not looked after.”
- How long does composite bonding last?
- “On average, composite bonding can last 3 to 5 years with proper care (not quite the 7 – 10 years that is often claimed!).
- You want to floss and brush at least twice a day
- You want to avoid things that can chip your teeth like chewing ice, hard foods, pens , pencils, biting sellotape. That kind of thing. You know the stuff!!
- Visit us regularly, ideally every six months.
- Have your teeth professionally cleaned, ideally with our air polisher.“
- Should I whiten my teeth before or after the composite bonding procedure?
“Definitely whiten your teeth before composite bonding so the new bonding I’m placing matches your whitened smile. The composite bonding itself can’t be whitened. The only people that we generally don’t recommend bonding to are heavy smokers because smoking can stain up the bonding over time.“
Happy bonding!
@Dr.Rebecca.Tonner