- Composite bonding, or dental bonding, is when we cure shade matched tooth-coloured resin to improve the size, shape and colour of a single tooth or multiple teeth. The composite resin is micro-mechanically bonded to the enamel permanently, however in most cases it can be removed if desired (unlike porcelain). It is usually painless (no needles/anaesthetic needed), usually little-to-no drilling required, and done in a single visit. The difference between "composite bonding" and a "composite veneer" is the amount of coverage. Bonding usually refers to a small portion of the tooth, e.g a chipped corner, and veneer refers to coverage of the full front surface of the tooth or teeth. We may apply both techniques to a single patient - every case is different.
Problems that composite bonding and composite veneers can address:
- tooth chips
- worn edges
- mis-shapen teeth
- slightly misaligned teeth
- discoloured teeth
- slightly spaced teeth
- replacement of old/chipped/discoloured fillings
Maintenance of composite bonding
- It is recommended that patients take special care of their bonded teeth to keep the smile looking natural and healthy for a long period of time. Dental bonding usually lasts between 5 and 10 years, but this is highly dependent on lifestyle factors and habits. Here are some tips that we recommend our patients follow to take care of dental bonding:
- Reduce the intake of coffee, tea or red wine as these are known to cause stains on resin material.
- If you’re a smoker, bonding will stain much faster. Consider quitting as a good solution not just to the upkeep of your dental bonding, but to your overall health as well.
- Avoid biting or chewing on hard objects such as nails, ice, pens and so on.
- Ensure you are sticking to regular check ups and cleans. Regular polishing of the bonding is recommended to maintain shine and reduce stains.
- In some cases a protective guard for night time wear may be recommended.
