What To Expect From a Dental Bonding Treatment

Dental bonding is an oral treatment offered in adhesive dentistry. The treatment involves bonding a tooth-colored resin material to a natural tooth. It is considered part of cosmetic dentistry because the resin material bonded on a tooth improves its appearance instantly. The procedure is offered under different circumstances, based on the examination of a dentist.

When Is Dental Bonding Offered?

If you are seeking dental bonding treatment, then it helps to know that the treatment is offered under some of the following conditions:

• For cavities – the tooth-colored resin material can be used to fill cavities of decayed teeth.
• To repair cracks and breakages – if one or more of your teeth are chipped, cracked, or broken, dental bonding can be used to fix them.
• For discolored teeth – dental bonding improves the appearance of a discolored tooth
• To rectify the shape of a tooth – if a tooth is deformed in shape, it can compromise the smile of a patient. Dental bonding can be used to improve the shape of that tooth and match it to the rest of the teeth.

As a patient, you do not have to be the one requesting for dental bonding in Anchorage, AK. Once your dentist examines your teeth, he/she will recommend the treatment for your condition.

What Is the Procedure for Having a Tooth Bonded?

• The preparation

The process of dental bonding differs depending on why the treatment was recommended. The preparation for the treatment may or may not involve the use of local anesthesia. If anesthesia is used, it is usually for procedures that involve the nerve of the tooth.

An excellent example of such an instance is when a tooth has to be drilled to improve its shape. Another situation is for decayed teeth that have already interfered with the pulp chamber of the tooth. Other than such instances, local anesthesia is not necessary. The initial steps of the treatment process involve selecting the perfect resin material to match your tooth. The dentist checks the shade of color that matches that of your teeth closest.

• The bonding

The surface of the target tooth is roughened up to make the bonding process achievable. To do this, the dentist etches part of your tooth on the surface. Afterward, he/she applies a conditioning liquid on the surface of the tooth to coat it. The liquid is useful in helping the composite resin material adhere to your natural tooth.

The next step involves the application of the resin material. At this point, the tooth-colored material is putty-like to make the application effortless. It is then shaped and molded into the perfect shape to match the needs of the tooth. The material has to be smoothed out to be the ideal fit for the tooth.

The dentist then used ultraviolet light or laser beams to harden the resin and bond it to the tooth. The material hardens on the tooth, making it very difficult to remove. After this, your dentist will trim off the excess of the resin material. This step ensures that the resin is in the perfect shape of what a natural tooth would look like.

• Final touches

Once the bonding process is complete, the dentist smoothens the surface. The final touch ensures that the newly treated tooth has the same shine and glare as your other teeth. It also ensures that the surface is smooth to match the feel of natural teeth.

How Long Does The Procedure Take?

Dental bonding is one of the easiest cosmetic procedures to perform. It takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour to complete the process. However, this only applies to one tooth. If you are having multiple teeth treated, then the procedure will take longer than an hour. The best part about this procedure is that it is painless, especially when tooth drilling and root canal therapy are not involved. It is why you may not always get local anesthesia for the procedure.

What Are The Risk Factors Of Dental Bonding?

Like all other dental treatments, there are risks involved with dental bonding. For one, you have to prepare for some sensitivity on your teeth after the procedure. However, this is not forever. The sensitivity should wear off after a few days.

The most important thing to be careful of with dental bonding is the strength of the tooth. The procedure is not as strong as other treatments. This means you must avoid hard things like opening cans or biting your fingernails with your newly treated tooth.