What is Dental Bonding?

Much of the fear that many people have of the dentist comes from nothing more than a lack of information. It is natural to be scared of something that you don’t understand, so many people turn and run from dental care rather than getting the information they need. Once you understand what is going on and how it can benefit you, the intimidation of the process may quickly recede into the background.

The topic at hand in this post is dental bonding, which is one of those areas that is sometimes misunderstood by dental patients. Before you can decide whether or not dental bonding is an option that will make sense for your mouth, you will need to understand what it is and how it can help certain patients. Of course, if you still have questions about dental bonding, or you want to determine if you would be a good candidate, feel free to ask your dentist on your next visit to Lakeside Dental.

The Basics

To get started, let’s quickly explain what dental bonding is and what it is used for. Dental bonding is really quite simple – it is the use of composite resin to repair a tooth which has been damaged in some way. The tooth or teeth in question may be decayed, chipped, or even just discolored. Whatever the case, the bonding is applied to help correct the problem without the need for more invasive procedures. You are usually going to be looking at only a single visit for a bonding treatment, and there is a good chance you won’t even need anesthesia.

It’s Quick, Easy, and Affordable

The heading of this section pretty much sums up what there is to like about dental bonding. Where some of the other options for dealing with a decaying tooth can be time-consuming – meaning several visits spread out over months – you can usually finish up a bonding treatment with a single visit to your dentist. For those who lead busy lives and don’t want to commit too much time to dental appointments, the speed of this treatment is certainly a big selling point.

So too does the ease of this treatment serve as a big positive. Many people are intimidated by invasive dental procedures, as they expect them to be painful – both in the moment and during the recovery. You don’t need to have those kinds of fears with bonding, since the process of this treatment is rarely painful and only takes a short period of time to complete.

Finally, we get to the topic of cost. Another reason that many people put off dental work – in addition to a fear of the treatment itself – is the cost of having their oral health problems handled. Dental work can be expensive, to be sure, but that is not the case here. This is one of the more cost-effective solutions you will find, which is a point that is sure to grab your attention as you are deciding how to proceed.

It’s Not Perfect

Everything sounds awfully good so far with regard to dental bonding. And, it is true that this is a worthwhile and potentially helpful treatment to consider. But we don’t want to send you away thinking that this is surely going to be the right choice for your needs. There are some drawbacks and limitations to be considered here as well, so be sure to talk with your dentist about both the pros and cons for your specific case.

For one thing, the bonding that is applied to your tooth or teeth cannot be expected to be as strong as the tooth itself. That means you might wind up chipping the bonding, especially if you make a habit out of chewing on hard, sharp things. You’ll want to pay attention to what you chew on in order to protect the look and performance of the bonding moving forward. Also, even with good care, this is not a permanent solution. You’ll probably need to have repairs performed after a few years, or even sooner depending on how well you care for your mouth. These drawbacks shouldn’t cause you to check bonding off your list as a good option for dental care, but don’t think that it is without its faults.

What to Expect

For this last section, we’ll talk quickly as though you’ve already decided to go ahead with dental bonding. What can you expect from this treatment and the recovery? The first step is picking out a shade that is going to match up nicely with your natural teeth. The surface of the tooth is going to be roughened a bit in order to give the bonding something to hold onto, and it will then be applied. Some work will be required on the part of your dentist to make sure the bonding is shaped and molded correctly on the tooth.

After some time has elapsed and the material has hardened, more work can be done to finalize the shape of the bonding. It can also be polished to make it look as natural as possible. You will likely be advised to avoid certain foods and drinks for the first couple days after the procedure, such as coffee and tea. Of course, it is always a good idea to pay close attention to the directions provided by your dentist in order to arrive at the best possible outcome.

We appreciate the time you have taken to stop by our blog, and we hope that we’ll be able to serve you soon. Dental bonding is a highly useful procedure which has helped to improve the smile of countless patients – but it is not going to be the right solution for everyone. Working with an experienced dentist is always beneficial because you can receive advice from someone who understands the options and has reviewed your oral health carefully. No matter what kinds of treatments you pursue, we wish you the best of luck in finding a smile you love!