Dental Composite Bonding at St John’s Dental Practice
Learn more about composite bonding, including how it compares to other forms of cosmetic dentistry, how the bonding procedure works and aftercare advice.
What is composite bonding?
Composite bonding is the process of adding tooth coloured filling material to teeth to improve their shape and appearance. Designed to improve the appearance of your front teeth, composite bonding uses specially formulated composite resin to change the size, shape and colour of the teeth.
Composite bonding is an excellent way to enhance your smile without the need for any invasive procedures. Tooth coloured bonding treatment is applied to your existing teeth, a quick and affordable solution to minor imperfections, chips and gaps.
The benefits
Composite bonding is becoming an increasingly popular option for people looking to improve their smile without resorting to more expensive cosmetic procedures. Unlike more invasive procedures such as crowns or veneers, it does not usually involve removal of any healthy tooth tissue, and it can sometimes even be completed in one single appointment.
Treatment steps
Composite bonding is an excellent solution for minor imperfections in the front teeth. The treatment is as follows:
- First, your dentist chooses a colour to match with the natural tooth. Some people choose to have teeth whitening treatments ahead of the bonding procedure so that the composite resin material can be matched to this new, whiter shade.
- Next, the surface of the teeth will be prepared for treatment.
- The teeth will then be coated with a liquid that helps the composite resin material to adhere properly.
- Finally, the resin is applied and moulded before being hardened, shaped and polished.
Aftercare
Taking care of your new smile
Take care of your new and improved smile by maintaining good oral hygiene, brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes, and flossing between the teeth twice daily.
The bonded teeth may need professional polishing from time to time to maintain their shine and remove surface staining, so visit our team at St John’s Dental Practice regularly.
FAQs
Why has composite bonding become so popular?
Composite bonding gives you the ability to enhance the appearance of front teeth fast, often in only 1-2 appointments. Improvements in dental materials mean that dentists can now closely match the appearance of natural teeth, or those that have had whitening treatments. Unlike porcelain veneers or crowns, composite bonding does not usually involve any removal of healthy tooth tissue, and the treatment can often be carried out painlessly without the need for injections. It’s also an affordable way of enhancing your natural smile.
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Who is suitable for composite bonding?
There are few barriers to going ahead with this treatment, meaning it is suitable for many people. Of course, before starting any cosmetic treatment, it’s important that your teeth and gums are healthy and well maintained. And composite bonding must be applied to natural tooth tissue, so cannot be applied to veneers or crowns. On the other hand, this dental procedure can be done on all upper or lower front teeth or just one of them, so it could work in conjunction with other types of cosmetic treatment.
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How long does the treatment take?
As each case is unique, your dentist will be able to give you a clear idea how long your planned treatment will take. To give you an idea, composite bonding for one tooth could take as little as 45 minutes, and often treatment can be completed in 1-2 appointments.
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How long does composite bonding last?
For most people composite bonding will last for between 3-10 years. Some or all of the restorations may need replacement or repair at this time. In a well-maintained mouth, the dental bonding may last even longer.
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What costs are involved?
An affordable option to revive moderately damaged teeth, composite bonding costs are usually much lower than for more invasive treatments such as crowns and porcelain veneers. Your dentist will be able to give you an accurate estimate once they have fully assessed your individual case, but approximate prices range from £100-£200 per tooth.
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Can you whiten composite bonding?
If you would like your teeth to be whitened in addition to composite bonding, we recommend you go ahead with your teeth whitening treatments first. This means that the dentist can colour-match to your newly whitened teeth, giving you a gleaming smile.
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Is composite bonding reversible?
Yes, it is possible to reverse composite bonding. It can be removed with little or no damage to your natural teeth if required as long as no alterations were made to your natural teeth before placement of the bonding materials.
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Does composite bonding hurt?
No, the procedure does not usually require injections. In more complex cases your dentist might suggest using a local anaesthetic in the area to make sure that you are comfortable during the procedure.
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Is composite bonding safe?
There are no significant risks associated with composite bonding or bonded teeth. The only potential hazard to keep in mind if you have composite bonding is it is possible for the resin to chip or separate from your natural tooth. However compared with porcelain veneers or crowns this is much easier to correct or repair.
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