Dental bonding is a solution for restoring a damaged tooth or making minor aesthetic changes to improve the appearance of your smile.
If you’re interested in an affordable, long-lasting cosmetic dentistry solution, our dentists at Eagle Run West Dental Group provide dental bonding in Omaha, NE. Here’s how restorative bonding works and whether it’s the right treatment option for you.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding, or tooth bonding, is the process of applying a composite resin to fill minor chips or cracks.
A more affordable substitute for porcelain veneers, dental bonding is an option for patients with stained, discolored, or broken teeth. Bonding is also used to:
- Disguise chipped teeth
- Cover stains
- Add length to short teeth
- Filling small cavities
- Close gaps between teeth
In general, dental bonding is recommended for teeth that aren’t severely decayed. If you’re missing one or more teeth, options such as dental implants or a dental bridge may be best for your treatment.
How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?
Dental bonding lasts three to 10 years before needing to be mended. Composite resin isn’t as durable as natural tooth enamel, which means it’s more likely to break or stain.
The longevity of tooth bonding is affected by several factors, including:
- The composite material
- Location of the bonding
- General oral health and hygiene methods
- How much resin was used
In most cases, taking care of your teeth will increase the duration of dental bonding. We recommend brushing and flossing your teeth, avoiding acidic and tooth-staining food and drinks, and not participating in activities that can break or chip your teeth.
How Does Dental Bonding Work?
Since your tooth structure remains untouched, dental bonding is a quick outpatient procedure. Most of our patients don’t even need anesthesia or pain medication!
Here’s how the dental bonding process works:
- Preparation: To prepare, our highly experienced dentists will match a composite resin color to your natural tooth enamel. We’ll then roughen the tooth and apply a conditioning solution, which will help the composite resin bond to the tooth.
- Bonding: The tooth-colored resin is applied to the tooth. Composite resin is pliable, which allows our dentists to shape it to your tooth. The resin is hardened with ultraviolet light.
- Final Touches: Our dentists will trim the bonding, so it matches your other teeth. The bonding process should take about 30-60 minutes per tooth.
Dental Bonding vs. Veneers
Dental Bonding
With dental bonding, a composite resin is applied to existing teeth to perfect their appearance. The bonding material is molded to fit the shape of the tooth. Cosmetic tooth bonding is a cost-effective option for fixing minor issues such as gaps, chips, and stains. While dental bonding is permanent, it’s not as durable as veneers and stains more easily.
Additionally, dental bonding isn't used to replace one or more teeth like veneers. While it gives you a gorgeous smile by repairing small cosmetic issues, veneers give you a complete smile overhaul as they're placed over your teeth instead of adding to your existing tooth.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are an option for patients with stained, crooked, or misshapen teeth. To apply veneers, part of the tooth enamel needs to be removed, which makes veneers an irreversible process. During the following appointment, veneers are cemented to the front of teeth, making them a longer-lasting cosmetic dentistry option than dental bonding. Veneers aren’t as affordable as dental bonding, but they’re expected to last longer and can give you a brand-new, beautiful smile.
Our dentists in Omaha will work with you to decide which choice is better for your individual needs.
Dental Bonding in Omaha, NE
If you want to learn more about the dental bonding process, call 402-498-8804 or schedule an appointment at our office in Omaha, NE. We’ll answer your questions, examine your teeth, and discuss how dental bonding can help enhance your smile.