A great smile can leave you feeling confident and attractive, which can help you to be more successful in all areas of your life - including at work, with friends, and even in your love life! If you want to get that gorgeous smile, there are many different cosmetic dentistry treatments available to you. Cosmetic bonding is one option that may be right for you. You can learn more about it here!
Cosmetic bonding uses a tooth-colored resin that’s shaped to fit your teeth and then hardened by ultraviolet light. The procedure can be used to fix damaged teeth, close spaces in between teeth, and improve smile aesthetics. It’s also very affordable compared to other cosmetic dental procedures like veneers or crowns. You will visit your dentist multiple times for an initial consultation and rough fitting as well as a final fitting session to polish your new smile. And because it’s so affordable, you can get multiples areas of treatment done at once (i.e., several fillings) without breaking your bank account!
General Dentist vs. Specialist
No matter what type of dentist you see, it’s important to know what your options are for procedures. Read on for more about cosmetic bonding, veneers and tooth-colored fillings. When we talk about cosmetic dental treatments, we should begin by defining exactly what that means. The ADA (American Dental Association) defines cosmetic dentistry as: The branch of dentistry that includes such specialty areas as esthetic (cosmetic) dentistry, endodontics (root canal treatment), orthodontics (straightening teeth), periodontics (gum disease treatment), pedodontics (children’s dentistry), prosthodontics (dentures/implants), and restorative dentistry.
What does cosmetic bonding look like?
Cosmetic bonding, or tooth-coloring, also called composite resin (or tooth colored) filling, can be used to enhance a smile. Cosmetic bonding looks like white fillings and is an alternative to metal restorations. It involves fitting an impression of your teeth and having a dentist take molds and fabricate temporary restorations in order to give you an idea of what your final results will look like. After you approve of how it looks, impressions are taken again to create permanent cosmetic fillings.
How does it work?
If you’re looking for that perfect smile but don’t want to go under the knife, cosmetic bonding might be right for you. Cosmetic bonding is a restorative procedure designed to correct minor dental imperfections such as chipped or cracked teeth. The dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth and then apply composite material (often used in fillings) over it. Once dry, your dentist will sculpt it into shape using an ultraviolet light. After another light cure, your dentist can polish and stain your newly-restored tooth back to its original color. By filling in chips and cracks with composite resin, patients with more extensive dental work can enjoy a beautiful smile without having to make any drastic changes to their mouths.
What results can I expect?
Cosmetic bonding is a type of cosmetic dental procedure that uses tooth-colored composite materials to improve or enhance your smile. Bonding typically takes two visits to complete, though in some cases a third visit may be required. Bonding usually lasts between 5 and 10 years before requiring a replacement. It can be used to correct chips and cracks in teeth, cover discolored areas, close gaps in between teeth, reshape misshapen teeth and close spaces left by missing teeth. As with other procedures, results vary depending on your overall oral health and your personal goals for treatment. Discuss your options with a dentist who has experience performing cosmetic dentistry treatments so that you can decide which treatments best meet your needs. For more information about cosmetic bonding or other cosmetic dental procedures, contact us today!
Does it hurt?
The biggest myth about cosmetic bonding is that it’s painful. That’s simply not true, and dentists have known it for years. Also called tooth-colored filling or porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding repairs chipped teeth or damaged enamel without discomfort thanks to modern technology like resin composite materials. The procedure only takes an hour and you can resume regular activities immediately afterward; there’s no drilling or cutting involved. You just get a little toothache from having to bite down on a straw!
Are there any risks involved with cosmetic bonding?
Though cosmetic bonding has become a very popular dental treatment over recent years, it’s not without its risks. For example, a person who may have gums that bleed regularly might be at higher risk for excessive bleeding during or after cosmetic bonding. If you have any concern about whether cosmetic bonding could be right for you, talk to your dentist first; he or she can help you determine if it’s safe and appropriate.
There are a number of cosmetic dentistry treatments available for improving your smile, and understanding your options can be overwhelming. If you have questions about procedures or cost, talk to our team. We’ll listen to your goals and offer advice on what would work best for you. The fact that there are a variety of dental procedures for cosmetic purposes does not mean there's not enough time to make improvements; in fact, you may want to consider all your options carefully so that you feel confident about proceeding with one of them as soon as possible. Don't let anxiety over money stand in your way; we're here to help!
