Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Tampa FL General & Cosmetic Dentists, Drs. Kavouklis
An alternative to porcelain veneers, bonding can be used as a restorative procedure for teeth that are chipped, cracked, discolored, or misarranged. Bonding is also ideal to close most spaces between front teeth.
How Does It Work?
The tooth is prepared for the procedure by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid. Once the liquid sets, a tooth colored composite resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed, and polished to a natural appearance.
Considerations
The bonding procedure can often be completed in a single office visit, and can significantly improve the appearance of a tooth. However, since the resin material used is not as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is more likely to stain, chip, or break than natural teeth. Bonding often needs to be replaced with each repair lasting a lesser amount of time. Typically, bonding lasts anywhere from one to five years before repair is needed.