Repair chips, cracks and small gaps in a single visit, with little to no change to your natural enamel.
Dental bonding is a conservative way to repair minor chips, cracks and other cosmetic concerns, with little to no alteration to your natural enamel. We apply a composite resin, similar to the material used in tooth-colored fillings, directly to the tooth.
The resin begins as a fluid and hardens on the tooth under a special curing light. For bonding we often use a thicker, putty-like resin that we can sculpt into shape before it sets. That lets us rebuild a chipped edge, close a small gap, mask discoloration, or lengthen a tooth that sits short of its neighbors.
Before we begin, we match the resin shade to your natural tooth color, sometimes placing a test amount and checking it under several kinds of lighting.
Bonded teeth hold up well, and there is very little risk of the resin breaking away. Most people find their bonding needs a touch up eventually rather than a full replacement, and we can refresh it during a routine visit.
How long yours lasts depends largely on habits. Biting nails, chewing ice or grinding at night will wear bonding faster, just as it wears natural enamel. Brushing twice a day, flossing and keeping your regular cleanings will protect the work.
Most bonding takes under an hour per tooth and rarely needs anesthesia, unless we are also treating decay. You can eat, drink and go back to your day as soon as you leave.
Bonding suits small, cosmetic corrections best. If you have a chipped edge, a hairline crack, a narrow gap or a tooth that has darkened, it is often the most conservative option available. It is also a sensible middle step if you are not ready to commit to porcelain veneers, since we remove little or none of your natural tooth.
Larger repairs, badly worn teeth or extensive decay usually call for a crown or veneer instead. We will look at your teeth and gums first and tell you honestly which approach fits.
For most cosmetic bonding, no. Because we are adding material rather than removing tooth structure, anesthesia usually is not needed. The exception is when bonding is used to fill a decayed tooth, where we numb the area first.
You may notice the curing light warm slightly and feel some pressure while we shape the resin, but the visit is generally comfortable. There is no recovery period afterward, so you can return to your normal routine straight away.
It depends on why the bonding is being done. When bonding restores a tooth after decay or damage, many plans treat it as a restorative procedure and contribute toward the cost. Purely cosmetic bonding is more often the patient’s responsibility.
Our team at either the Phoenix or Ahwatukee office can check your specific plan before you commit, so you know what to expect. We can also walk you through the payment options we offer.
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