Dental bonding is a common cosmetic dentistry treatment in our Towson, MD, dental office. A bonding treatment can address tooth chips, cracked teeth, worn teeth, tooth discoloration, and even slightly crooked teeth. Patients usually have questions about bonding before undergoing treatment. Whether you’re a good candidate, if dental bonding is removable, and what bonding can do for your smile, we’re here to answer these questions and more.
Dental Bonding FAQs
Thinking about getting bonding treatment? You probably have some questions. Check out the answers to these common questions about tooth bonding to learn more.
Can Dental Bonding Treat Cavities?
While dental bonding uses the same tooth-colored composite resin material as white fillings, it’s not typically used to treat cavities. The main difference is in the preparation. When dealing with cavities, the first step is to get rid of all the decayed parts of the tooth. Only then can we put in the filling material. On the other hand, bonding is a bit different. It’s about adding material to the outside of a tooth to make it look better, rather than fixing any internal damage.
So, if you’ve got a tiny cavity in a spot people can see, we can use bonding material to fill it and make your tooth look better too. The composite resin we use sticks really well to teeth and can last for years if you take care of it, whether it’s for cosmetic bonding or a filling.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Bonding Treatment?
Dental bonding works best for patients who want to fix specific visible teeth rather than changing their entire smile. Ideal candidates might have:
- One chipped front tooth from an accident
- Small gaps between teeth that they’d like closed
- Stains that don’t respond to whitening
- Worn edges that make teeth look uneven
We don’t recommend bonding for patients who grind their teeth heavily at night. The constant pressure could damage the bonding material. During your dental exam, we’ll examine your teeth and discuss whether bonding will give you the results you want or if another treatment might work better for your situation.
Can You Remove Tooth Bonding from Teeth?
One of the biggest advantages of dental bonding is that it’s completely reversible. Other cosmetic treatments permanently alter your teeth. Bonding only involves lightly etching the tooth surface with a special solution to help the resin stick better.
If you ever decide you don’t want the bonding anymore, we can easily remove it without damaging your tooth underneath. The removal process is simple. We just polish off the resin material and leave your original tooth intact. This makes bonding a great low-commitment option for patients who want to try a cosmetic change without making permanent alterations to their teeth.
Is Dental Bonding Cheaper Than Veneers?
Yes, dental bonding is generally much more affordable than veneers. While prices vary depending on how many teeth need work, bonding typically costs about one-third to one-half the price of veneers. The lower cost comes from several factors:
- bonding takes less time to complete
- It uses less material
- It doesn’t require creating custom porcelain pieces in a dental lab
Bonding is usually complete in a single visit, while veneers often take two or more appointments. However, it’s important to remember that bonding doesn’t last as long as veneers. You might need touch-ups or replacements every few years, while veneers can last 10-15 years with proper care.
Can You Whiten Bonded Teeth?
The composite resin used in dental bonding doesn’t respond to teeth whitening treatments like your natural enamel does. This means if you whiten your teeth after getting bonding, the bonded areas will stay their original color and might start to stand out.
We recommend doing any whitening treatments before getting bonding so we can match the resin to your new shade. If you’ve already had bonding and want whiter teeth, we can easily replace the bonding material with a lighter shade. Some patients choose to do this at the same time as their regular dental cleaning for convenience. The good news is that replacing old bonding is quick and doesn’t need any additional preparation.
Do Bonded Teeth Look Real?
Bonded teeth should look completely natural when done properly by an experienced cosmetic dentist. We take great care in selecting the perfect shade of composite resin to either match your existing teeth or create the slightly brighter look you want. The material comes in various opacities and shades to mimic tooth structure.
After applying the resin, we sculpt it to match the shape of your surrounding teeth, then polish it to the same shine as your enamel. The finished result should blend seamlessly with your smile. You might forget which tooth was bonded. We always check how the bonding looks in different lights and with your facial expressions to ensure the most natural look possible.
Do you have more dental bonding questions for our team? Contact Cosmetic and Advanced Dentistry today at (410) 697-6290. You can also request an appointment with us online. We will be happy to help you.