Dental Bonding: The Quick, Easy Way to a Great Smile

If you’re unhappy with your smile, is the idea of spending hours in the dental chair stopping you from improving it? Dental bonding can be a fast and easy way to get the smile you want! 

At Santa Monica Bay Dental in Santa Monica, California, our dentists understand the impacts of a great smile. It gives you more confidence, improves the first impression you make, and can, quite literally, change your life. Dental bonding can be a faster route to the smile you want than other smile makeover procedures. 

Here are some of the instances in which dental bonding may be the most appropriate procedure, as well as what it is and what you should expect. 

Dental bonding — simple, fast, effective

Bonding involves the use of a tooth-colored resin composite to correct a dental problem. Your dentist mixes a composite, matches it to the color of your natural teeth, prepares your tooth, applies the composite, then shapes and polishes it as needed. The composite is dried using a laser or ultraviolet light. 

Uses of dental bonding

Bonding most often is used to correct chipped or discolored teeth, however it may also be used to: 

• Reshape teeth
• Hide a gap between teeth
• Make teeth appear longer
• Protect the root of teeth where gums are receding

One of the biggest advantages of bonding compared with other procedures is that it’s a fairly quick process that can usually be completed in one appointment. If you’re having multiple teeth treated, you may need multiple appointments. 

What to expect

Once you and your dentist have decided that bonding is the best approach to solving your smile problem, you may wonder what to expect. First, your dentist matches the resin to the color of your teeth so it’s not noticeable. 

Bonding is faster because your teeth don’t need much special preparation. Prior to applying the resin composite, your dentist slightly roughens your tooth and applies a conditioning liquid so the composite sticks to your tooth better.

Once the resin is on your tooth, your dentist expertly shapes it, which is another reason bonding is not noticeable. After it looks good, our staff uses a special light to harden the resin. Then, any additional polishing or shaping is done. 

Since the resin is hardened during your appointment and you don’t need anesthetic, you can return to your normal activities right after your appointment — there’s no need for recovery time. Bonding usually takes from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what your dentist is correcting. 

Caring for bonded teeth 

Resin composite isn’t as strong as natural tooth tissue, so you do need to be aware of that and take care. Chewing ice, biting your nails, and similar habits can damage your bonding. The resin is also susceptible to staining, so take care with coffee, tea, wine, and other staining foods and beverages. 

If you’d like to find out if dental bonding can give you the smile you’ve always wished you had, book an appointment at Santa Monica Bay Dental. Simply call us at 310-453-8606 or send us a message online.