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Dental bonding is a non-invasive cosmetic dental procedure. Here, our Edmonton dentists share how it can help repair discoloured, chipped and gapped teeth and restore your smile.
What is dental bonding?
Dental bonding is a dental treatment option where a tooth-coloured composite resin is used to repair a tooth. The composite resin can be shaped and polished to match surrounding teeth so that it blends in, creating a natural-looking result.
It's called bonding because the composite resin literally bonds to the tooth.
Why might I need dental bonding?
Dental bonding is most often used for cosmetic reasons - to improve the appearance of a discoloured or chipped tooth, to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer, or to change the shape or colour of teeth.
Bonding is also sometimes used as an alternative to amalgam (silver) fillings, or to protect exposed tooth roots caused by receding gums.
What happens during a dental bonding procedure?
During the dental bonding process, the dentist applies the composite to your tooth in layers, using a light to harden each layer.
After the final layer is hardened, the dentist then shapes and polishes it to form your tooth. The finished tooth looks natural and smooth.
How long does dental bonding take?
Dental bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete. Unlike veneers, which are custom made in a laboratory, bonding completed be done in a single visit.
How long does dental bonding last?
Composites using in the bonding process have an average lifespan of four to eight years. Depending on where in the mouth it is applied and how it is maintained, they often last longer.
The restoration can be touched up and even re-bonded by the dentist over time, if necessary.