Dental Bonding FAQ

Dental bonding material consists of a composite resin, a biocompatible material similar to putty that can be shaped or custom-colored to match the shade of a patient’s natural teeth. After an assessment to determine if you are a good candidate for bonding, it can be applied in 30-60 minutes per tooth, so if several teeth could use bonding, it may require multiple visits to the dentist’s office. Dental bonding may not be as visible or comprehensive as veneers, but it is an ideal way to start an affordable cosmetic smile makeover that protects teeth from further damage.

Bonding is an amazingly versatile material. It is perhaps best-known for being able to fill large cavities after the decay has been removed, without the obvious appearance of old metal fillings.

If you drink a lot of coffee, tea, red wine, or colored sodas, or eat dark foods like blueberries, tomatoes, or beets, your teeth may become deeply stained and over-the-counter whitening remedies may not be effective on them. Dental bonding can cover the most visible areas.

Bonding loses its luster over time if it’s done for aesthetic reasons on the face of the teeth only. To avoid discoloring as much as possible, drink water and brush as soon as you can after consuming dark beverages and foods. It is advisable to get a professional whitening from our office at least once a year to keep your smile bright.

Bonding can cover and strengthen teeth that have been chipped and cracked, but which do not require a dental crown to hold them together. If your teeth have gaps between them, are misshapen, or too small, we can sculpt the bonding material to hide these imperfections so that your overall smile is improved and gives you new self-confidence, whether socially or professionally.

Bonding is not as strong as the natural protective layers of your teeth, the enamel and dentin, so you want to avoid damaging it by habits like chewing on pens and pencils, pulling clothing on or off with your teeth, or chewing on hard candy, food, or ice. If your teeth show wear and tear because you grind them while you sleep, bonding can repair the damage and we can create a customized mouthguard to wear while you sleep to prevent this from happening again. With good brushing and flossing habits, bonding can last up to ten years.