If you have close, small gaps between your front teeth, or if you have chipped or cracked teeth, you may be a candidate for bonding at Goose Creek Family Dentistry. Bonding is also used for patients who have discolored teeth, uneven teeth, gum recession, or tooth decay. Bonding material is porous, so smokers will find that their bonding will yellow. If you think you are a candidate for bonding, discuss it with your dentist.
Bonding is a composite resin filling placed in the back teeth as well as the front teeth. Composites are the solution for restoring decayed teeth, making cosmetic improvements, and even changing the color of your teeth or the reshaping of teeth. Bonding will lighten any stains you may have, close up minor gaps, and can be used to correct crooked teeth. Basically, bonding will cover any natural flaws by applying a thin coating of a plastic material on the front surface of your teeth. After this, your cosmetic dentist will apply a bonding material and sculpt, color, and shape it to provide a pleasing result. A high-intensity light then hardens the plastic, and the surface is finely polished.
There are two types of bonding. What type we use is indicated in your situation depends upon whether you have a small area or a larger area that requires correction.
For Small Corrections
These are one-appointment fillings, which are color matched to the tooth and are bonded to the surface for added strength. These are most appropriate for small fillings and front fillings, as they may not be as durable for large fillings.
For Larger Corrections
Dental lab-created tooth-colored fillings require two appointments and involve making a mold of your teeth and placing a temporary filling. A dental laboratory then creates a very durable filling to custom-fit the mold made from your teeth. These fillings are typically made of porcelain. The custom-fit filling is then bonded to your tooth on your return visit. This type is even more natural looking, more durable, and more stain resistant. Esthetics is the big advantage over silver fillings. As silver does not stick to teeth, entirely healthy tooth structure is usually removed to keep a silver filling in place. Composites permit your cosmetic dentist to remove only the decayed area of your tooth. Unlike silver fillings, composite bonding expands just like your teeth and is much less likely to cause cracks in your tooth. Composites bond directly to the tooth, providing support. Composites can be used to fill in cracks, chips, and gaps – and will match the color of your other teeth.
Personal Stories: Tooth Bonding
I already had a nice smile, or at least that was what my girlfriend told me. Last summer, we decided to go boating for the Fourth of July weekend. It was a great time, until I slipped on the deck while pulling her up out of the water after she was done water skiing. Concentrating a bit more than I should have on her swimwear, I slipped and struck my mouth right on the deck… it was one of those facedown falls that make you glad no one around had a video camera.
After she helped me up, I noticed I was bleeding a little from my mouth. While trying to laugh it off, I noticed that three of my teeth were a bit sharper against my tongue than before, and one tooth was downright shorter. Panic set in, and I immediately ran to a mirror to discover that a little fall yielded some serious damage.
I made an appointment with a cosmetic dentist when we returned home. He suggested bonding the chipped teeth, and discovered that one of my old metal fillings was knocked out as well. This he said he would bond at the same time. On my return visit to him, I was really surprised how little time it took for the procedure. The guy was an artist. You could never tell that anything had ever been done.
– Mark, N. Charleston
I was born with enamel defects to my teeth as a child. I had yellow, splotchy teeth with spaces in between each tooth. In middle school, other kids would make fun of my teeth and rotten mouth. My mom asked my dentist about any possible improvements that I could have. He suggested bonding. At age 12, I received my first bonding on all four of my front teeth. The experience not only improved my smile, it also improved my self-confidence. I had it redone five years later, and when I was 29, I had permanent crowns and lab-made veneers placed permanently on my six front teeth. I have never felt better about my smile, and I would suggest it to anyone that has not wanted to fully smile because of teeth defects given at birth.
– Ryan, Goose Creek
If you are considering dental bonding in Goose Creek, South Carolina, contact our dentists, Dr. Gilreath and associates, at 843-764-3081 today for a consultation.
