Bonding--how to aesthetically enhance your smile
For years, dentists have used bonding procedures to aesthetically
and structurally enhance teeth. By using a mixture
of resin, fillers and glass, dentists are able to imitate
the look and feel of your natural tooth. Simply put,
applying this mixture to your tooth bonds the composite to
your tooth structure.
If you have chips, cracks or misshapen teeth, consider
bonding. Your cosmetic dentist will use a material similar
to enamel and apply it to your tooth's surface. The
mixture is then shaped to your teeth.
A laser hardens the mixture, and to finish off, your
cosmetic dentist will polish your new
tooth/teeth structure to a gorgeous smile.
Bonding is not as strong as your natural teeth so you should
be extra careful when biting into hard foods like apples.
Since bonded fillings are more durable in the back teeth,
many people consider using porcelain veneers in the front.
The bonding procedure typically requires one appointment
where your cosmetic dentist eliminates a bit of your tooth
structure and applies an etching agent to the primed tooth.
Your dentist will then layer the structure with a
transparent, adhesive resin, which fuses into the pores and
bonds the resin to the tooth structure.
After the resin mixture bonds to your tooth, your dentist
will contour the tooth-colored resin and then harden it with
a laser or curing light.
Pros and Cons of Bonding--consider these facts
Pros
- quick-usually one appointment
- inexpensive compared to other durable aesthetic
options
- natural-looking
Cons
- not as durable as porcelain veneers
- if you bleach your teeth after bonding, could result
in an incompatible smile
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