What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding enhances the look of your smile by reshaping teeth, correcting discoloration, and closing gaps without needing veneers or orthodontics. This procedure, called Bonded Restoration, repairs chipped, cracked, or broken teeth by applying composite resin, the same material used for composite fillings. With routine care, these repairs restore teeth to like-new condition and are long-lasting.
How Does Dental Bonding Compare To Other Options?
Dental bonding offers several benefits, but the best restoration method for you will depend on your unique needs. During your appointment, we will thoroughly discuss all available options and their respective pros and cons, enabling you to make an informed decision. Dental bonding is quick and minimally invasive, cost-effective compared to other procedures, effective for repairing minor cosmetic issues, and can be completed in a single visit.
Quick and Painless
Dental bonding typically requires minimal preparation, unlike fillings or dental veneers that often involve drilling. Since very little of your natural tooth needs to be removed, the bonding process is almost always entirely painless.
Low Upfront Cost
Dental bonding is a straightforward and affordable option for making minor adjustments to a few teeth. Unlike more extensive treatments like dental veneers and orthodontics, which come with higher costs due to their complexity and significant changes, dental bonding provides a cost-effective solution for minor dental improvements. This makes it an excellent choice for those seeking an economical treatment for small dental corrections.
Great for Small Repairs
For minor changes, dental bonding is the simplest solution available. If you envision extensive changes to your smile, you will benefit more from a comprehensive treatment plan that may include dental veneers, crowns, or orthodontics. However, for small repairs, dental bonding offers an effective and straightforward option.
The Dental Bonding Process
No matter if you’re opting for dental bonding to repair a tooth or enhance your smile, the steps involved are identical. Here’s what will happen during your dental bonding appointment:
Preparing the Tooth
To begin, a thin plastic film known as a dental matrix is placed between your teeth to safeguard the neighboring ones from any stray materials. Afterward, the dentist will thoroughly clean and dry the tooth in question. A mildly acidic gel is then applied briefly to create a textured surface for better adhesion of the bonding material.
Applying the Composite Resin
Once the acidic gel is rinsed off and the tooth is dried, the composite resin is applied. Your dentist will choose a resin that closely matches the color of your teeth for a natural appearance. The resin is added in layers, and each layer is hardened with a special blue light to ensure durability and strength.
Finishing Touches
The dental bonding process concludes with a bite check to ensure proper alignment. The dentist will then polish the bonded tooth, giving it a smooth, natural appearance that blends seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. This detail will be noted in your chart, and in subsequent visits, the dentist will inspect the bonded tooth for any signs of wear and tear. You might even forget which tooth was treated.
Cost Of Dental Bonding In San Diego
Providing an accurate cost estimate for dental bonding is challenging without understanding your specific needs and examining your teeth due to the wide variety of reasons for its use. Typically, the procedure costs between $300 and $600 or more per tooth if you don’t have insurance. Most insurance plans do cover dental bonding, especially when it’s required to repair a broken or damaged tooth. With insurance, your out-of-pocket costs are usually around $60 to $120.
- The number of teeth requiring bonding
- The necessity for any new x-rays
- The amount of composite resin needed for the treatment
- The location of the teeth in your mouth
- Your overall oral health
When determining the cost of your dental bonding treatment, we consider these important factors:
An accurate quote cannot be provided over the phone by any dentist. We would be delighted to give you a precise estimate in person following a thorough examination, enabling you to understand the final costs and make an informed decision.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental bonding on front teeth can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years or more, depending on factors such as its specific location, your dietary habits, and your oral hygiene routine. If any wear and tear are detected during your regular dental check-ups, the dentist can apply more composite resin to reinforce the bonding.
While dental bonding isn’t permanent, it is highly durable. With consistent dental care, healthy eating habits, and regular check-ups, it can last for many years, often exceeding a decade. If the bonding begins to show wear, more composite resin can be applied to maintain its strength.
Bonding and veneers serve different purposes. Veneers are better for those wanting a long-lasting solution and more significant alterations to their smile, providing durability and a noticeable transformation. Conversely, bonding is less invasive and more affordable for minor corrections, requiring minimal changes to the natural tooth, but it doesn’t last as long as veneers.
Dental bonding doesn’t significantly affect the integrity of your natural teeth. The bonding material may chip or break over time, but it can be easily repaired. Your natural tooth remains largely intact underneath the bonding. One common concern is that dental bonding doesn’t lighten with teeth whitening treatments. Therefore, you might consider whitening your teeth before getting bonding, or replacing the bonding to match your whitened teeth. If you’re concerned about the durability of dental bonding, you might want to explore stronger, longer-lasting options like veneers or crowns.
Dental bonding is a suitable option for children, especially for repairing chipped or broken teeth due to accidents or cavities. The procedure is minimally invasive and can be done quickly, making it a good choice for younger patients. However, it’s essential to consider that as a child’s teeth and mouth grow, adjustments or additional treatments might be necessary.
Yes, dental bonding can effectively close small gaps between teeth. By applying composite resin to the sides of the teeth adjacent to the gap, the dentist can reshape them and eliminate the space, providing a more uniform appearance.
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