How Dental Bonding Can Improve The Appearance Of Your Front Teeth And Your Smile

Posted on: 12 July 2017

Dental bonding is a type of cosmetic dentistry that improves the appearance of your smile. If one of your front teeth is chipped or if your front teeth are permanently discolored, then bonding might be able to help. Here's how this dental treatment works.

The Material Used In Bonding

Bonding is typically done using a white resin material. This is the substance used when you receive a white filling in a tooth so the filling is invisible. Your dentist chooses an exact match when it comes to the color of the resin so it blends in well with your other teeth. When the resin is applied, it is polished until it develops a sheen so it looks like natural enamel.

The Dental Bonding Process

The advantage of dental bonding is that it doesn't require reshaping of your tooth or removing a layer of enamel like is necessary when you get a crown or veneer. However, the surface of your tooth must be roughed up some so the bonding material adheres to it better. The resin is then applied to the tooth to cover the surface and hide stains or to fill cracks and chips. Your dentist uses a light to cure the resin so it hardens in place. You may not even need to have an anesthetic injection to numb the tooth when you have it bonded. The procedure isn't painful unless drilling is involved or when the chip or crack affects a nerve.

The Results Of Dental Bonding

You can have a single chipped tooth bonded or you can have all your front teeth bonded to make them appear whiter. Bonding can close gaps in your teeth and slightly alter their appearance by making your teeth longer. The result is a more attractive smile. The resin used in bonding your tooth or teeth should last for several years, but at some point, it may need to be replaced. Bonded teeth can chip, so you want to be careful about crunching on ice chips and other hard foods.

Resin can also stain, so you'll need to practice good oral hygiene to keep your teeth clean. You may want to avoid smoking and drinking coffee to limit the risk of discoloration. Also, be sure to have regular dental visits and cleanings so your dental work stays free from stains and your smile stays bright.

Dental bonding could be the cosmetic dental treatment best suited for improving the appearance of your teeth and smile. It isn't always the best choice for every problem, so the first step is to consult a cosmetic dentist for an evaluation of your teeth to see if bonding is a suitable method for improving your smile.

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Providing Children With Dental Knowledge

When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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