What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding, also known as cosmetic or composite bonding, uses composite resin, the same tooth-coloured material used for composite fillings to reshape and restore a tooth. Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be built up with composite resin in a minimally invasive process called Bonded Restoration. This repair restores the tooth to like-new condition and will last for years with routine care. Dental bonding is also used to enhance the appearance of a smile by reshaping teeth, correcting colour and closing small gaps, without the need for veneers or orthodontics.
How Does Dental Bonding Compare To Other Options?
There are many different options available for restoring your teeth or achieving your dream smile. The best option for you will depend on your specific needs. During your appointment, we’re happy to discuss all of your options, along with the pros and cons of each, so you can make an informed final decision. That said, here are some of the benefits of dental bonding:
Quick and painless
With fillings or dental veneers, some drilling is usually required to prepare the tooth for treatment. This is rarely the case with cosmetic bonding. Very little, if any, of your natural tooth structure needs to be removed beforehand, which means the bonding procedure is almost always completely painless.
Low upfront cost
More extensive treatments such as fillings, or dental veneers, and orthodontics come with a heftier price tag. And for good reason, more extensive and dramatic changes call for a personalized treatment plan of greater complexity. However, for minor changes to a few teeth, dental bonding is a simple and cost-effective treatment.
Great for small repairs
It bears repeating: if you’re envisioning extensive changes to your smile, you’ll benefit from a more complex treatment plan that may include dental veneers,crowns, or orthodontics. But for minor repairs, tooth bonding is the simplest solution available.
What To Expect: Dental Bonding Procedure
Whether you’re getting dental bonding to restore a tooth or for purely cosmetic reasons, the process is largely the same. Here’s what you can expect at your dental bonding appointment:
Preparing the tooth
First, your neighbouring teeth are protected with a thin film of plastic called a dental matrix. This matrix is slipped between your teeth and shields the adjacent tooth from any stray preparation gel or composite resin. Next, the dentist carefully cleans and dries your tooth, then applies a mildly acidic gel for a few seconds to create a rough surface for the bonding material to adhere to.
Applying the composite resin
Once the acidic gel is cleaned away and the tooth is dried once more, the composite resin is applied. Your dentist selects a resin shade that matches your natural teeth for a seamless, natural-looking finish. The resin is applied in layers, with a special curing light used to harden each layer for maximum strength and durability.
Finishing touches
After checking your bite, your dental bonding is complete. As a final touch, the dentist gives your tooth a quick polish. Your bonded tooth will look beautiful and natural, you may even forget which tooth was repaired. We’ll make a note in your chart, and at future exams, the dentist will give some special attention to the bonded tooth to check for wear and tear.
How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost In Belleville?
Dental bonding is used for such a wide variety of reasons that it’s difficult to provide a ballpark estimate without learning more about your needs and examining your teeth. That said, the cost of dental bonding typically runs approximately $300 to $600 or more per tooth without insurance. Most insurance companies will cover dental bonding, especially if it’s needed to restore a broken or damaged tooth. With insurance, you can expect to pay somewhere around $60 to $120 out of pocket per tooth.
When determining the cost of your dental bonding treatment, we look at these important factors:
- How many teeth you need bonded.
- Whether any new x-rays are required.
- How much composite resin will be needed to complete the treatment.
- Where the teeth in question are located in your mouth.
- Your current overall oral health.
Remember, no dentist can give you an accurate quote over the phone. After an examination, we’d be happy to provide you with an accurate quote in person, so you can find out your final costs and make an informed decision.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper care, dental bonding can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years or more. Lifespan depends on factors like bite pressure, diet, and oral hygiene habits. During routine dental exams, your dentist can add more composite resin if any wear is detected, keeping your bonded tooth strong and long-lasting.
Dental bonding isn’t permanent, but it is a long-lasting solution. With routine dental care, good eating habits, and regular checkups, dental bonding can last more than a decade. If your bonding shows signs of wear and tear, it can be reinforced with additional composite resin to restore its strength.
Two very different procedures. Dental Veneers offer a longer-lasting solution and are better suited for patients wanting more dramatic smile makeovers. Dental bonding has a shorter lifespan but is more cost-effective for minor repairs and far less invasive, since less of your natural tooth structure needs to be altered.
Dental bonding carries no major risks. Your natural tooth structure remains almost completely, if not entirely, intact beneath the bonding material. The bonding itself may chip or crack over time, but it’s easily repaired. A common concern patients raise is that dental bonding doesn’t respond to teeth whitening. You may want to whiten your teeth before bonding, or have the bonding replaced afterward to match your newly whitened smile. If durability is a priority, dental veneers or dental crowns offer a stronger, longer-lasting alternative.
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