Dental Bonding - Soft Touch Dentistry

Dental Bonding
O'Fallon, Illinois

In cosmetic dental bonding, an enamel-like material is applied, hardened and
sculpted to close spaces between teeth, cover flaws, or improve the color or shape
of teeth. Composite tooth bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that can work
wonders for your smile. Using materials that match the shade, translucency and
texture of your teeth, gaps between the teeth can be closed; spots, chips, and
discolorations can be eliminated, and your self-confidence can be enhanced through
the improved appearance of your smile.

How is a tooth bonded?
Tooth bonding is usually a one-visit procedure. The tooth is prepared by lightly
roughening the area to be repaired, which usually doesn't require anesthetic. The
surface of the tooth is then etched with a gel, and a treatment of bonding primers
and resins is applied to the tooth. Dental composites are made to a paste-like
consistency so that they can be sculpted to the proper shape and applied. They
contain various pigments that are matched to your tooth color, and they come in
varying degrees of translucency. This composite is applied to your tooth,
sometimes in several layers in order to duplicate the depth of color that occurs in a
natural tooth. A high-intensity curing light is then used to harden it. With the latest
dental technology, we can mimic the color details and translucency of your tooth for
a natural, healthy appearance.

How long will tooth bonding last?
The technology of composite tooth bonding materials is wonderful as far as the
beauty that it can bring to your teeth. There are some limitations to the materials of
which you need to be aware. How long bonding lasts depends on many factors that
are unique to the individual. Many people will go for ten or fifteen years and have the
bonding look as good as the day it was put in. Some people will get staining on the
margins of the bonding after one or two years and will need some touch-up work. If
you take care of it well, it would be unusual to ever have to replace it, but some
touch-up work would be normal after three to five years.

Under normal mouth conditions and if used as recommended, the tooth bonding
work will not darken or discolor with age. If improper professional cleaning does not
damage the bonding, it should not stain any more than your natural teeth. In most
cases, it is also durable enough to withstand the stresses of ordinary mouth function.

If you have extensive bonding work, we recommend frequent professional
maintenance. Having your teeth cleaned two to four times per year can help protect
your bonding and make it look better and last longer. Maintain your bonded teeth by
brushing and flossing faithfully. Avoid biting into hard, sticky foods; especially for
extensive bonding on front teeth. Try to avoid sweets or starchy foods between meals.
Bonding holds up much better when it is clean. Be careful to choose gentle cleaning
tools - Harsh toothpastes will dull the shine on bonding and make it more
susceptible to stain. Hard toothbrushes will also damage bonding. If you have minor
flaws in one or many teeth, you should consider dental bonding as a quick and
economical way to improve your appearance.

If you are considering dental bonding in O'Fallon, please call or e-mail us today!