Oklahoma City Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is the use of white composite resin material to repair small defects in teeth to give them a nice uniform appearance and shape. Many dentists are uncomfortable with performing direct dental bonding on teeth because it requires a very steady and precise touch as well as an artistic eye. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Forth is highly skilled in the art of dental bonding and he has had years of advanced training in aesthetic smile design and composite bonding techniques.

Photo of chipped tooth before bonding. Photo of tooth after bonding.

In the photos above, you can see a patient's chipped tooth on the right and then the same patient's tooth after repair with dental bonding. If you look carefully, you can see that the bonding repair is not a uniform white color all over. This is by design, as it needs to match the surrounding teeth of the patient. The color and translucency (reflectiveness to light) vary minutely over the space of the repair.

Dental bonding versus veneers

Some patients wonder about the difference between a repair with dental bonding and one with porcelain veneers. Dental bonding is best suited to small chips, gaps or imperfections in a small number of teeth. In most cases, bonding only requires one visit to the dentist and any color or shape adjustments are made before the bonding is complete.

However, bonding is not suitable for a complete smile makeover because it is not as durable and stain-resistant as porcelain. Significant changes to the overall appearance of the smile are usually best accomplished with veneers.

Dental bonding: What to expect

The composite resin used in dental bonding is a similar consistency to modeling clay. It is applied directly to the tooth and then carefully shaped and shaded by the dentist. That is why it is of paramount importance to choose a dentist who has the right training, attention to detail, and skill necessary to achieve the right look.

Once the resin is applied and the dentist has finished his work, a special "curing" light is focused on the area of the bonding, which hardens the material. The time to complete bonding repair of one tooth is approximately 30 to 60 minutes.

Once complete, the patient receives special instructions on caring for and maintaining the bonding repairs over time. He or she must be careful to use gentle cleaning techniques to avoid scratching or damaging the bonds. And, professional cleanings of the teeth should be done by dentists and hygienists with special experience in caring for cosmetic dental work.

 

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