Dental bonding gives people with minor cosmetic problems an easy and affordable way to improve their smile. A quick and painless procedure, it is an effective treatment option for people who suffer from dental phobias or are not interested in extensive cosmetic procedures. In today’s blog, your Des Moines Dentist, Dr. Stephen Burds explains the pros and cons of dental bonding.
Pros
Dental bonding is one of the easiest and least expensive cosmetic procedures available today. It is minimally invasive and can be completed in one visit. It requires no drilling, surgery, minimal time in the dentist’s chair compared to other procedures, and is quick and painless. A single tooth can be bonded within 30 to 60 minutes, and it is effective for a variety of cosmetic corrections including: repairing chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth; changing the shape of one or more teeth; lengthening worn down teeth; filling in gaps or spaces between teeth; and whitening discolored teeth. Dental bonding is beneficial to those who can’t sit for extended periods of time, or can’t afford extensive dental procedures, and bonded restorations can last from three to ten years.
Cons
The resin bonding material can stain over time just like natural teeth. More prone to chipping than other cosmetic procedures, bonding may not be the treatment of choice for people who display chronic destructive habits such as chewing ice, pen caps, their finger nails, or use their teeth as a tool for opening things. Bonding is best suited for small cosmetic changes, as a temporary treatment for cosmetic defects, and for teeth that sustain very low bite pressure such as anterior dentition.
Dental Bonding
The light roughening of the tooth is required to ensure the dental bonding material–a durable, plastic resin–adheres successfully. Next a conditioning liquid is applied. The putty-like resin material, which is colored to blend with your natural dentition, is added, shaped, then solidified using a special laser or ultraviolet light. Because teeth are porous, the resin material seeps into the pores bonding with and strengthening the teeth.
About your Des Moines Dentist
Contact your Des Moines dentist by calling Gateway Dental Group at (515) 244-9565. We welcome patients from River Bend, Kirkwood Glen, East Village, and neighboring communities.