Of the easiest, most price efficient procedures used to improve and beautify smiles is the bonding of the teeth. A cosmetic dentist performs these procedures right in the office, and most patients are amazed by the great improvements achieved in as little as a single visit. Among the many causes for seeking dental improvements, bonding can address anything from minor chips to full makeovers. No matter the reason, the most widely used practice to correct imperfect teeth is dental bonding. Simple, affordable, and rarely uncomfortable, it is a very appealing process.
Dental bonding is a process in which the practitioner takes a putty-like resin material closely matching the color of the natural tooth and applies it to the patient’s tooth to either fill a cavity, repair decaying gaps between teeth, or simply to improve the appearance of a smile. In some uses, a whiter color may be selected and the composite is painted on the front surface of the teeth to whiten and strengthen the enamel.
After matching enamel color, a safe acidic liquid is applied to the areas the tooth enamel will be treated, and this creates a textured surface on the enamel. The rough edges prepare teeth to receive the resin and hold it in place. Once each tooth has been covered with the resin and it is firmly attached, the practitioner must sculpt each tooth’s shape and surface until the desired result is achieved.
When the material appears to be in the correct placement and is molded appropriately, an intense light is used to permanently attach the new material to the tooth’s surface. The resin will need to be filed with a fine-grade file to perfect the shape and alignment. The polishing process does not take very long, and the end result is a smooth, natural feeling surface.
Usually bonding lasts anywhere from seven through eleven years. The materials may last longer with appropriate care and routine maintenance. Some teeth require occasional touch-ups every few years, but generally this is only necessary if the natural bite of the patient causes slight wear. A strong blow to the treatment may cause a bonding to come loose, but repairs are usually very affordable and fast.
A bonded tooth mimics a natural tooth in many ways. Just as the original enamel is prone to staining, so is the new surface. Avoid berries, coffee, and smoking to prevent discoloration. If the client is frequently exposed to stain causing elements, the teeth should be cleaned regularly.
Try to break any bad habits that may damage the bonding. The new edges are not as strong as a natural tooth, so frequent nail biting or chewing ice may damage or break the new surface.
Because bonding has so many effective uses, it is one of the most common procedures performed by a cosmetic dentist London Ontario. A single tooth can be repaired as quickly as 30 minutes. More intensive correction may require molds to be cast and a series of office visits before completion, but the end result is still a very natural feel and appearance which the patient will usually not be able to tell the difference from the treated teeth and the natural ones.
A dentist London Ontario offering dentistry services for the whole family including dental exams for kids, dentures, porcelain veneers, invisalign and tooth whitening.