Want straight teeth without ongoing work? Carol E. Follette DDS has the perfect solution: dental bonding. It’s affordable, reliable, and remedies virtually any cosmetic dental issue, including stained, broken, or chipped teeth.
What Is Dental Bonding?
There are four core steps involved in a typical dental bonding treatment:
- A tooth-colored composite material is applied to the tooth/teeth to be treated.
- The composite is sculpted until its shape matches that of the tooth.
- The composite is given time to harden.
- After hardening, the tooth is polished to ensure an attractive sheen and texture.
Given the integral role played by the composite material, you may have guessed that dental bonding derives its name from the fact that the material “bonds” to the tooth. In addition to the symptoms mentioned in the opening paragraph, dental bonding is also a desirable solution for closing small gaps, and it’s a safer/more appealing method of filling small cavities.
What Does The Procedure Entail?
A dental bonding procedure t is fast and painless. Here’s how you can expect things to go:
- The dentist applies a benign phosphoric acid to the affected teeth. This substance roughens the surface of the tooth, which ensures that the bonding material will adhere and remain in place.
- After the adherent is applied, the composite material (which resembles putty) is placed on the tooth, whereupon it’s sculpted and shaped so that it integrates seamlessly with the surrounding teeth.
- The hardening process begins, during which a special light is used to expedite things.
- Once the bond is sufficiently hardened, the dentist polishes and buffs the tooth/bond until it’s indistinguishable from the real thing.
Benefits Of Dental Bonding
Dental bonding offers some terrific benefits, including:
- A competitive cost, especially considering that most dental insurance plans cover most/all of the expense. This is especially true if the bonding is needed to fill a cavity, or as a structural reinforcement for a tooth/teeth.
- Painlessness: unless you come to us for a dental bonding that is needed to fill a decayed tooth, anesthesia isn’t part of the process. Also, compared to crowns and veneers, there is very little enamel removal associated with dental bonding.
- Aside from the rare exception, a standard dental bonding procedure necessitates just a single office visit. We recommend allowing 30 – 60 minutes per tooth.
Maintaining Your Dental Bonds
Despite dental bonding’s effectiveness, regular maintenance is vital. If not properly cared for, bonds are vulnerable to chipping and staining. The following three tips are especially helpful:
- Avoid chewing on hard objects and biting your nails
- Reduce red wine, tea, and coffee intake
- Quit smoking
For Dental Bonds, Choose Carol E. Follette DDS
Carol E. Follette DDS and her team are highly regarded for their professionalism, friendliness, and expertise in a wide range of dental procedures. Whether you want dental bonding from a leading cosmetic dentist serving Santa Monica, or are seeking a trusted family dentist, we invite you to visit our office for a tour today.