Dental Bonding

portrait of a handsome man smiling No one has perfect teeth. Most of us have some discoloration, a chip here or there, an oddly shaped tooth, even a gap between a couple teeth. For minor cosmetic defects, dental bonding at Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry is a great solution. 

Dental bonding uses a resin material made from a combination of ceramic and plastic to cover the defects, creating a perfect smile. Bonding is a great alternative to porcelain veneers for those who want a simpler process at a lower cost. And it can usually be done in just a single appointment! 

What is dental bonding? 

In dental bonding, Dr. Smith and Dr. Feng use dental resin to mask cosmetic imperfections on a tooth or teeth. The resin is applied, sculpted, and then cured. Bonding is very versatile and can solve a variety of cosmetic problems. 

What kinds of problems can dental bonding address? 

Dental bonding can be used to treat: 

  •     Discolored teeth that don’t respond to whitening
  •     Minor chips and cracks
  •     Uneven teeth
  •     Crooked teeth
  •     Gaps between teeth

It’s important to note that bonding is aesthetic in nature; it doesn’t solve underlying tooth issues such as decay. For a tooth to receive any bonding, it must be healthy. 

How is bonding done? 

You can think of the bonding procedure as a sculpting of sorts by Dr. Smith and Dr. Feng. First, the teeth to be treated receive a light etching into the enamel. This makes for a better surface for the resin to bond onto. Next, we choose the appropriate resin color to match your natural teeth. The resin is applied in small increments, building up the contour and depth. When satisfied, a curing light is used to harden the resin. We will test your bite and shave away any high points and the like. When both you and Dr. Smith or Dr. Feng are satisfied with the look and feel of your bonded teeth, those teeth are polished. Now your perfect smile is ready for the world to see! 

How is bonding different from porcelain veneers? 

While both dental bonding and the application of porcelain veneers have the same end goal — to cover cosmetic imperfections and create a perfect smile — they do it in different ways. Bonding uses a resin material that is sculpted on the teeth, cured, and then polished. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that are cemented onto the fronts of the teeth. To make room for the veneers, approximately 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm of the tooth enamel must be shaved off. 

In use, porcelain veneers do not stain and are quite durable. The resin used in bonding is more resistant to staining than natural tooth enamel, but it can stain over time. Veneers last longer but are more expensive than bonding. Also, bonding is usually done in a single appointment, while veneers require two appointments. 

Do you have a chip or a stained tooth that could use some composite bonding to cover its flaws? Call us at Pound Ridge, (914) 764-3540, to schedule your appointment.

POUND RIDGE COSMETIC DENTISTRY

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