Sports injuries are the most common cause of chipped and cracked teeth, but hard foods and simple accidents are also usual culprits. Many patients think that repairing such a minor issue must involve extraction or a complicated procedure and resolve to let the problem lie. But there is no need to make your way through life with a smile that you are not proud to show off. Cosmetic bonding can repair chips, cracks and discoloration in one easy dental visit.
Cosmetic Bonding Restoring Tooth Appearance
Dental bonding is a procedure where composite resin is “bonded” to the affected tooth in order to repair imperfections and restore a tooth’s appearance. The treatment can be used to repair teeth that are chipped, cracked, crooked, gapped, short, misshaped or discolored. Dental resin can also be used as an alternative to amalgam (metal) fillings.
The procedure starts with the preparation of your natural tooth in order to receive the composite resin. Your dentist will first apply a phosphoric acid solution to the surface of the tooth. This may sound scary, but it is not painful and it actually tastes a little like lemon. The acid acts as a roughening agent to aid in the adherence of the resin to the tooth, similar to gently sanding a surface before applying a coat of paint. After a few seconds, the acid is removed and a liquid adhesive is applied.
After your dentist has chosen the color of the resin that will match your teeth most closely by using a shade guide, he/she will apply a small amount of the tooth-colored material directly to the tooth. It is putty-like and can be easily shaped and molded to the size, shape and thickness desired. It is then smoothed and the excess matter is removed. An ultraviolet light is then used to aid in the hardening of the resin. After it is completely hardened, your dental professional will shape and polish the tooth’s surface to match the sheen of the surrounding teeth. The process should take no more than an hour per tooth.
Since dental resin can be so easily formulated to closely match your natural tooth color, and the procedure is quick and virtually painless, it is a popular treatment choice for an array of cosmetic dental issues. Since the resin is used to cover the tooth’s surface, it is often used to restore a tooth’s appearance that is badly discolored and where standard teeth whitening treatments are not effective.
This process is also commonly used to change the shape of teeth. A tooth or teeth that are “short” can be lengthened, and the empty space between gapped teeth can be filled-in by molding the resin to the desired width and shape. Crooked teeth can be “built-up” to form a more even surface appearance and misshaped teeth will be made to more closely resemble surrounding teeth. Dental bonding resin can even be used for fillings in instances where the patient is allergic to standard amalgam materials or prefers a more cosmetically-pleasing option.
Cosmetic bonding is one of the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedures available. It doesn’t require anesthesia or multiple dental visits and is least damaging to the tooth’s enamel. The procedure allows immediate results and a natural appearance, which is why cosmetic dental bonding may very well be the right treatment for you.
For more information about cosmetic bonding, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
