Dental Bonding

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a procedure used to improve the appearance of the teeth by applying a natural-colored resin to the teeth and hardening it with a special light. In most cases, anesthesia is not required for dental bonding unless the procedure includes filling a decayed tooth. The dentist matches the color of the resin with that of the patient’s teeth for a natural look.

During the dental bonding procedure, the dentist first roughens the surface of the tooth and then applies a conditioning liquid. This helps the resin to bond effectively with the tooth. Then, the dentist applies, molds, and smoothes the resin into the desired shape on the tooth. With an ultraviolet light or laser, the dentist is able to harden the resin before trimming and shaping it and giving it a final polish. Each tooth takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete. Patients are able to leave and resume work immediately.

Dental bonding materials can last from three to ten years, but have a tendency to chip. The resin is generally stain-resistant, but not to the same degree as dental crowns. No special care is necessary beyond good oral hygiene, which includes brushing twice daily and flossing.