Bonding. When most people see that word they either think of Thanksgiving or those Psychology 101 experiments in college when monkeys tried to bond with surrogates. But at Implant Dentistry of Florida, we want you to know about another sort of bonding, dental bonding.
Dental bonding can be a good solution to certain dental problems. Dental bonding uses resin, a mix of tooth-colored plastic and glass, to cover or fill an assortment of dental problems. Bonding is an alternative to more expensive porcelain veneers. And, although our name says “implants,” we also offer an assortment of cosmetic dental procedures such as bonding.
What can bonding do for my teeth?
Bonding can cover many problems with your teeth. First things first, though, bonding can only be done on healthy teeth. If your teeth have problems such as decay or there are issues with your gums, those need to be addressed before any bonding can be done. Bonding is a cosmetic treatment, not a restoration.
Here are the cosmetic dental problems that can be fixed with bonding. Bonding can:
- Restore teeth that have lost mass due to decay
- Brighten heavily discolored teeth
- Fill large cavities
- Protect the tooth root when gums recede
- Fill tooth cracks and chips
- Fill gaps between the teeth
- Improve the symmetry of the teeth
- Hold veneers and crowns
The benefits of bonding?
Bonding has many benefits. Its only real drawback is longevity. Bonding resins don’t have the duration of a crown or porcelain veneers, but your composite resin used for bonding will still last around a decade. Here are the benefits of bonding:
- Ease— With bonding, there is no waiting for fabrication of veneers or a crown. Bonding is done in the office, usually in a single visit.
- Cost— Bonding can be an alternative to more expensive procedures such as veneers, crowns, or certain large precious metal fillings. Dr. Brown and Dr. Vaughn use bonding to address many of the same problems as can be treated by the other procedures, but at a much lower cost.
- Painless— Since bonding involves placing the bonding material onto your teeth, there is no need for any anesthesia.
How is it done?
Drs. Brown and Vaughn apply the resin in layers. A layer is applied and then sculpted as needed. When satisfied, that layer is then cured with a special light, and the next layer is applied. This is done until the final look is achieved. Once placed, the resin can be shaped, ground, and polished. The end result is a beautiful smile, and it can all be done in just a single appointment.
Interested in bonding beyond Thanksgiving? Call the team at Implant Dentistry of Florida, 321-259-9429, and ask us about bonding.