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repair structural damage
what is dental bonding?
Dental or tooth bonding is the act of rebuilding a tooth’s structure or altering its appearance by bonding composite resin to your tooth enamel. This composite resin material is tooth-colored so it matches your child’s natural teeth, creating an aesthetic and natural-looking smile, free of damage, decay, or large gaps.
This cosmetic procedure is minimally invasive, painless, and much more cost-effective than alternatives like veneers or dental crowns. This procedure is often combined with another procedure known as tooth contouring or enameloplasty, in which a small amount of enamel is removed from the tooth to alter the length, shape, or size of the teeth.
Contact us at Villa Park Pediatric Dentistry to find out if dental bonding is right for your child or teen. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Leslie Butler, call (714) 978-4274.
rebuild teeth and fill in gaps
what can dental bonding fix?
Gaps - Dental bonding can be used to fill in gaps between the teeth or to make the teeth larger so there are no longer any gaps.
Discoloration - We can use a shade guide to match the composite resin to a pearly white version of your child’s teeth. This whiter bonding shade can be applied to all of the teeth to achieve a long-term whitening effect.
Decay - Composite resin is used to rebuild the structure of a tooth as well as to fill in holes from cavities. First, we will need to drill out any decay and then the composite resin will be applied in layers until we have rebuilt the tooth.
Chips & Cracks - Minor chips and cracks can be filled in with dental bonding to restore the tooth’s appearance and structure. Teeth can become chipped from dental trauma or teeth grinding.
Worn-Down Enamel - If your child grinds their teeth, the excessive force applied to their teeth will wear down their enamel over time, resulting in the edges of their teeth appearing more rigid and transparent. We can repair this with dental bonding to achieve a uniform appearance throughout the tooth.
Alter the Shape & Size of the Teeth - Dental bonding can transform the size, shape, and length of your child’s teeth just like veneers can, except it fundamentally changes the structure of your teeth instead of covering them with porcelain shells.
Protect An Exposed Root - If your child or teen has a damaged tooth or a crack running up to the root of the tooth, this needs to be covered to reduce their risk of infection and damaged dental pulp. We can bond composite resin over the root to seal it and protect the tooth’s health.
longevity of tooth bonding
how long does dental bonding last?
Dental bonding is a temporary cosmetic procedure that will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. However, most patients will get between 3-10 years out of their bonded teeth before needing a touch-up or replacement.
The best way to ensure bonding lasts for as long as possible is to minimize damage, oral health problems, staining, and wear and tear. The best way to keep dental bonding in working order is to practice good oral hygiene by brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Don’t use hard-bristle toothbrushes which can break down the bonding, use soft-bristle toothbrushes instead. Teeth grinding will damage or crack your child’s dental bonding so, if you notice them grinding their teeth, they should wear a mouthguard at night while they sleep. They should also avoid hard or staining foods and drinks, and shouldn’t use their teeth as tools.
what to expect
what is the dental bonding process?
The dental bonding process takes about 30-60 minutes per tooth. Local anesthesia is typically not necessary because the application of the bonding material is painless. However, if there is an exposed root that we will come into contact with or if we need to do any drilling, we will use an anesthetic.
First, we will use a shade guide to match the shade of your child’s teeth with the composite resin or go a little lighter to improve discoloration. The surface of their teeth will be abraded and then a conditioning liquid will be applied. This helps the bonding properly adhere to the tooth.
Composite resin is then applied and molded to the tooth before curing it with UV light to instantly harden. If additional shaping or contouring is needed, this can be performed after the bonding has been cured. We finish off the tooth by polishing it and repeat the process on each tooth.
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