You might have heard of the growing popularity of cosmetic bonding, a cosmetic dental procedure. Research indicates that as many as one-third of people under 35 have received cosmetic dentistry in the last 12 months. This demonstrates the significant public desire for aesthetically pleasing, healthy-looking teeth. Cosmetic bonding is one of the most popular options for improving these aspects. But what is cosmetic bonding? And how does it work? This article addresses these questions to help you decide whether cosmetic bonding is a good choice for you.
What’s the purpose of cosmetic bonding?
The purpose of cosmetic dental bonding is to make your teeth appear straighter and healthier – and sometimes even improve their health. Here are some ways that cosmetic bonding may benefit you:
- Repairs gaps or chips that you have on your teeth
- Corrects areas of discolouration
- Reshapes your teeth so they are straighter and more even
- Rebuilds exposed areas of the tooth from gum recession
How does cosmetic bonding work?
A colour-matched composite resin (an advanced plastic material) will be made and applied to your teeth; the resin will then be shaped to change their appearance or strengthen your existing teeth. When this resin hardens, the resin generally remains intact for 5-10 years. However, the longevity of the cosmetic bonding will depend on factors like:
- The quality of your original cosmetic teeth bonding procedure
- Your tooth maintenance (how frequently you brush/floss)
- What you eat / drink (high/low sugar content)
- Whether you smoke
- How frequently you attend the dentist
Before your procedure, research your dentist to ensure that they are well-reviewed and trusted. Following the procedure, continue to care for your teeth (bearing in mind the factors listed above) and you should improve the durability and longevity of your teeth.
What does the cosmetic bonding procedure look like?
Some dentists will recommend a consultation to examine your teeth to understand how your mouth is shaped and gauge what you would like from the work. Whether they request this or not may depend on the type of cosmetic bonding you are getting, i.e. whether you are looking for a purely aesthetic difference or if you are rebuilding specific teeth.
If you are getting cosmetic bonding for aesthetic reasons
If your motivations are purely aesthetic and you would like to get your teeth whitened, too, you will have to return for further whitening sessions. However, the cosmetic bonding procedure itself usually only needs one appointment. In this appointment, your dentist will:
- Establish a colour match between your teeth and the resin
- Apply a liquid that helps the resin adhere to your teeth
- Apply layers of resin shaped around your teeth
- Dry the resin with a light or a laser
- Polish the resin to make your teeth look natural
In this context, you are unlikely to need any anaesthetic as the procedure is painless.
If you are getting cosmetic bonding for restorative reasons
Whilst the structure of the procedure itself is largely the same regardless of what you are getting it for, it may take slightly longer for people getting cosmetic bonding for restorative reasons. For example, if it’s used to fill cavities, the actual shaping and prepping of the tooth may be trickier and take longer.
In this case, you may be offered anaesthetic, but it is still uncommon, as pain is unlikely. Your dentist should let you know in advance how many appointments you may need (which is the benefit of a consultation).
Is cosmetic bonding right for you?
If you feel you would benefit from nicer, healthier-looking teeth, cosmetic bonding is a popular option for a reason. It is very quick, usually painless, extremely convenient and the resin is completely non-toxic.
If you have any more questions, look for a free consultation with a trusted dentist to explore what cosmetic bonding would look like for you.
