The Versatility of Dental Bonding

Dental bonding may be the most versatile tool a general dentist can use to improve the smile's appearance. Of all the cosmetic dental treatments, one could argue that dental bonding has the widest range of uses. If you are considering dental bonding to improve the overall look of your smile, it may be the only cosmetic dental treatment you need.

An overview of dental bonding

Dental bonding is a fairly simple procedure that requires little to no alteration to the natural tooth enamel. Dentists use this procedure to make various cosmetic improvements, from refining tooth shapes to fixing tooth cracks and other imperfections. During this procedure, the dentist applies a tooth-colored resin to the tooth that needs fixing. After shaping the resin as needed, the dentist hardens the material into place using a special light. Because the dentist matches the composite resin to the shade of the patient's tooth, it covers the imperfection seamlessly.

The many uses for dental bonding

Here are just some of the ways dentists can use dental bonding:

Fixing chips and cracks

Dental bonding is often the go-to procedure for repairing minor dental damage. Dental damage is not always avoidable, regardless of how well people care for their teeth. Thanks to dental bonding, a dentist can seal and cover minor chips and cracks, restoring the tooth to its original appearance.

Replacing metal fillings

Another dental issue that can be difficult to avoid is a cavity. Dental bonding offers a way to fill cavities that is less obvious than amalgam or other metal fillings. If a patient has a metal filling in a highly visible part of the smile, a dentist may be able to replace it with the tooth-colored composite resin used in dental bonding.

Filling in gaps between teeth

Some patients have significant spaces between their teeth. Dentists can resolve this issue with orthodontic treatment, but dental bonding is an alternative. Instead of going through months or years of orthodontic treatment, a dentist can use dental bonding to add volume to teeth, filling the spaces between them.

Make teeth appear straighter

Dental bonding may also serve as an alternative to orthodontic treatment for minor crookedness of teeth. Dentists can combine enamel shaping and dental bonding in cases of mild tooth misalignment to reshape the teeth visible when the person smiles. After this reshaping, teeth can appear straighter.

Covers stains

Professional teeth whitening from a dentist can be an excellent way to get whiter teeth. However, a dentist cannot remedy certain intrinsic stains with a teeth-whitening solution. When the discoloration is due to aging, enamel wear, medication use, or too much fluoride, teeth whitening treatments will not be enough to remove it. The good news is that a dentist can cover the discoloration with dental bonding.

An alternative to porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers can create a "picture-perfect" smile where the teeth appear well-aligned and uniform in size, shape, and color. Still, porcelain veneers require significant alteration to the natural teeth and can be expensive. Instead, dental bonding can create makeshift veneers that require less alteration to the natural enamel and usually come with a lower price tag.