Is Dental Bonding Right for You?
If dental flaws and imperfections are keeping you from sharing your smile, dental bonding may be right for you. Cosmetic dentistry treatments, including dental bonding, can mask a variety of dental flaws to give you the confidence of a beautiful smile. Dental bonding can transform the smile in as little as one dental appointment, making it a popular treatment. Although dental bonding is suitable for those who wish to enhance their smile, it's not right for everyone. During patient consultations, Dr. Randal Watson determines who would make an ideal dental bonding candidate. Contact our Austin, TX office to find out if treatment is right for you.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a treatment used to improve and enhance the appearance of the teeth. Dental bonding masks flaws with a special tooth-colored resin that is bonded directly to the teeth. Dental bonding treatment is quick and painless, allowing those who undergo treatment to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful smile in as little as one dental visit.
The Dental Bonding Procedure
Dental bonding treatment begins with a thorough cleaning of the teeth and the application of a special solution onto the surfaces of the teeth to ensure the bonding treatment will firmly adhere. The bonding material, a type of soft tooth-colored resin, will be prepared and matched to the color of the surrounding teeth, or it can be made in a brighter shade of white if you wish to mask discoloration. This resin is then directly applied to the teeth and shaped to the desired size and appearance.
Once the desired look is achieved, the soft resin will be hardened, or cured, by applying a special light or heat to the treated teeth. The final step is to touch up the treated teeth by finely shaping the hardened resin and polishing the teeth for a beautiful, natural looking luster.
Candidates for Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a non-invasive treatment, making it suitable for many people who wish to improve the appearance of the smile. Ideal candidates for dental bonding should have healthy gums free of gum disease and relatively healthy teeth free of major dental damage. Those who suffer from gum disease or serious dental damage should have these issues addressed before dental bonding treatment can be performed.
In addition to good oral health, dental bonding candidates include those with:
- Misshaped teeth: Teeth that are pointed, jagged, or otherwise misshaped can be reshaped using dental bonding treatment.
- Dental stains: Dental stains, especially those that are too severe for treatment with teeth whitening, can be masked with dental bonding. The tooth-colored resin used for dental bonding can be customized to match the surrounding teeth or made a brighter shade of white for a brilliant, vibrant smile.
- Disproportionate teeth: The size of disproportionate teeth, whether oversized or undersized, can be adjusted with dental bonding treatment for a beautifully uniform smile.
- Gaps between the teeth: Dental bonding treatment can be used to close gaps between the teeth, providing an instantly improved smile without the need for orthodontic treatment.
- Minor fractures or chips: Small chips and fractures may be treated with dental bonding, restoring dental appearance and preventing further damage.
Find Out If You're a Candidate for Dental Bonding
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile and would like to find out if dental bonding is right for your needs, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Watson today.