Bonding Can Help Repair Chipped Teeth
Great Falls, MT
 What is Bonding?
Bonding is the process of applying a tooth-colored composite resin to a tooth to repair fractures, chipped teeth, decay, stains, and missing pieces. The material we use for repair bonds to the tooth, hence the name. We shape and polish the composite resin so that it matches the adjacent teeth. While composite bonding is most often employed to improve the look of a damaged or discolored tooth, it is also used to close gaps between your teeth, protect tooth roots when your gums recede, elongate teeth, and to change their color or shape.
How Does Bonding Compare to Other Options?
Bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable cosmetic dental procedures. It is an option for those who don’t want amalgam fillings, which are more noticeable. While veneers are made in a dental laboratory and need a specialized mold for a proper fit, we can complete the bonding procedure in just one appointment.
What Do I Need to Do to Prepare for Bonding?
Bonding requires no preparation. Most of the time, we don’t even need anesthesia, unless the bonding is meant to fill a tooth that is decaying.
What’s the Procedure for Bonding?
Dr. David Currie uses a shade guide to choose which color of composite resin best matches the color of your tooth. Next, we will slightly etch the tooth’s surface to make it rougher, and then lightly coat it with a conditioning liquid to help attach the bonding material.
Once the tooth is ready, we will administer the putty-like, tooth-colored resin, forming and smoothing it until it reaches the desired shape. Then we harden it using a laser or an ultraviolet light. Trimming and shaping will continue after it’s done hardening. After that, the dentist will polish your it until it resembles the sheen of the rest of the tooth’s surface. The entire procedure takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, so you may need multiple appointments if you’re restoring more than one tooth.
Are There Any Risks Involved with Bonding?
Keep in mind that the composite resin used for bonding isn’t as strong as a real tooth. Bonding generally lasts for several years before it needs repair. However, their longevity will depend on the quantity of bonding used and the quality of your oral care.
Pay attention to how your teeth feel within the week after you receive your bonding. If you find any sharp edges on your bonded teeth, or if they don’t feel right when you bite, contact our office. Also, contact us if the bonding chips or if any piece comes off.
How Do I Take Care of My New Bonding?
Substances such as coffee, tea, red wine, and cigarette smoke can stain the resin, so avoid eating or drinking anything of that sort for the first 48 hours after the bonding procedure. Also avoid biting your nails or chewing on hard objects like pens or ice, as that can chip the resin. Above all, brush and floss your teeth twice a day, eat a balanced diet, and come in for dental check-ups and cleanings once every six months.
If you have questions about bonding, call us at (406) 315-5882.
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