Do you avoid smiling because you have tooth damage? Are single discolored teeth affecting the look of your smile? Dental bonding can cover discolored, chipped, crooked, fractured, worn, and shortened teeth. Dr. Todd Collins and Dr. William Jennings provide teeth bonding treatment in Groesbeck, TX, for patients who ant to change the look of one or more teeth. This cosmetic dental treatment can create a brighter, more even, and aesthetically pleasing smile.
Teeth Bonding Treatment in Groesbeck, TX
Before recommending tooth bonding treatment, we will examine your smile and take note of your cosmetic problems. If you have any outstanding dental problems, including gum disease or tooth decay, we will treat them prior to bonding treatment. You need to be in good oral health for tooth bonding treatment. Then, if we find that dental bonding matches your budget and cosmetic goals, we will begin treatment.
First, the dentist will polish your teeth to ensure that he has a clean tooth surface. The dentist will use a conditioning liquid to prepare the teeth; preparation uses acids to roughen the tooth surface and ensure the material adheres properly. The dental bonding material is made of tooth-colored resin. The dentist color-matches this material to your desired tooth shade or an existing tooth if damaged.
Then, the dentist applies the composite resin, which will feel like a malleable, putty-like substance. The dentist will sculpt the bonding material to match your tooth’s natural shape. Finally, the dentist will harden the bonding material with a curing light and polish the tooth for a natural look.
How to Care For Bonded Teeth
Dental bonding can last for over ten years with the right care. Directly after you complete tooth bonding treatment, avoid staining foods and beverages to care for your bonded teeth. Foods and drinks like tea, coffee, sodas, berries, and tomato-based sauces can easily stain teeth and affect your newly bonded teeth.
You can brush and floss your bonded teeth as you would natural teeth. Look for soft-bristled brushes and non-abrasive toothpaste to brush your teeth. Remember to floss before brushing to remove debris between your teeth. Harmful bacteria can still build on bonded teeth and affect your surrounding natural teeth and gums.
Additionally, while bonding is durable, we recommend avoiding biting your nails or using your teeth as tools. These habits can damage your natural teeth and your bonded teeth.
Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding
Many compare dental veneers and tooth bonding because they provide similar treatments. However, porcelain veneers and tooth bonding differ in multiple ways.
Dental veneers cover the front of teeth with small, tooth-colored shells. Bonding treatment can add structure to damaged teeth or cover discolored teeth, meaning they can cover different areas of the tooth. Patients may also require more tooth preparation for veneers. Although we may prepare the teeth with abrasion, we will not remove a large portion of the tooth for bonding treatment.
Dental veneers can take longer and be more costly than bonding treatment because we use different materials and dental labs to create custom veneers. We often recommend dental bonding for patients with minor cosmetic needs or those requiring single teeth treatment. Bonding often takes less time than dental veneer treatment.
Tooth bonding treatment is also easily reversible. We can remove bonding material if patients have old bonding and want to restore the appearance of their smile. Patients who choose veneers must be committed to covering their teeth for the rest of their lives. Dental veneers require tooth preparation that permanently affects the natural tooth. Bonding will not permanently affect teeth.
Tooth Bonding FAQs
If you want to learn more about dental bonding, read answers to commonly asked questions about this cosmetic treatment:
How long is dental bonding treatment?
It takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete dental bonding treatment for each tooth. Because of this treatment time, it can take one or more visits to complete bonding treatment, depending on the extent of your dental needs.
What are the benefits of dental bonding treatment?
There are many benefits to tooth bonding. Dental bonding:
- Offers quick and painless treatment
- Does not damage your tooth enamel
- Provides a less costly alternative to other treatments
- Blends in with your natural smile
Our office will work with you to determine if dental bonding is the right cosmetic dental treatment for you.
Is dental bonding treatment painful?
No, you should not feel any pain during teeth bonding treatment. We will not work near the tooth’s nerve, where you feel the most pain and sensitivity. You may feel slight sensitivity to heat and cold after your treatment, but this will fade after several days.
Can bonded teeth get cavities?
Composite resin bonding material is not affected by tooth decay. However, harmful bacteria can affect the natural part of the bonded tooth, the surrounding teeth, and the gums. It’s important to properly brush and floss your teeth and gums to prevent dental cavities.
Can you whiten bonded teeth?
No, composite resin will not react to active ingredients in teeth whitening treatments. If you want to change the color of your bonded teeth, we can remove the material from your teeth and provide new material. Your bonded teeth may discolor over time, and you can receive professional care in our office so we can give you brighter teeth.
Can tooth bonding lengthen short or small teeth?
Yes, we can add composite resin to short or small teeth to make them appear longer or wider. Dental bonding offers a non-invasive alternative to dental surgery for patients with short teeth. We directly place the material on roughened teeth without removing your natural enamel or gum tissue.
Enhance Your Natural Smile
Are you interested in dental bonding treatment in Mexia or Groesbeck, TX? Call Groesbeck Family Dental for quick and comfortable teeth bonding today at (254) 556-3973. Feel free to schedule a dental consultation with our dentists online. Please contact us if you have questions about dental bonding and are unsure which cosmetic treatment is right for you. We’re here to help.