Bonded fillings can be crucial to fill holes to prevent tooth decay, but bonding can also be used as part of cosmetic dentistry to fill gaps, straighten teeth and transform someone’s smile.
While many people consider bonding and cosmetic dentistry as an unnecessary luxury, it can transform the lives of many people who have been self conscious and shy of smiling or talking due to the look of their teeth and their smile. Bonding is one of those treatments that can change someone’s life – for health purposes, their physical smile or mentally their view of themselves.
Here is everything you need to know about bonded fillings:
1. What are bonded fillings?
When you are in the dentist’s chair and you are told you have a cavity, then it is bonded fillings that will be used to fill the gap. They will also be used to replace old fillings as fillings usually last between seven and 20 years, so they will need replacing at some point. The fillings are made from a resin material and they are bonded to the teeth using a special light treatment. The bonding will turn hard and will be durable for day to day eating and drinking, but it will also give a really natural look. And if you need a good dentist, check out the professional dental clinic in Santa Monica.
2. Using bonded fillings for cavities
Before the cavity is filled, the dentist will drill into the hole and remove any decay and clean it up. That’s when they will apply the bond into the space. The dentist will then use a light treatment to set and harden the bond.
3. Bonded fillings are not just for cavities
Bonding can also be used for cosmetic dentistry. It can fix cracks or chips in teeth. It can be used to replace old fillings, particularly if you want to ensure you have fillings that are the same color as your teeth. Bonding can be used to shape the surface of a tooth that is uneven. And it can be used to fill the gaps between teeth. It can, in quite a simple procedure, change the look of someone’s smile.
4. How long do bonded fillings last?
A tooth colored bond can last from four to eight years, but it will depend on which part of the mouth the teeth are in and the personal biting, eating and chewing habits of the patient. If you have bonding on the front teeth, then it is wise to avoid biting into food or it could damage the structure of the bonding work.
5. What is the difference between bonding and fillings?
Well they are effectively the same thing, but bonded fillings are used to prevent tooth decay. Cosmetic bonding is used to improve someone smith through filling gaps or reshaping teeth for aesthetic purposes. A filling is generally used when you are filling a cavity. People tend to use the word bonding if they are having a cosmetic procedure, but they are using the same material.
6. Does bonding ruin your teeth?
Bonding doesn’t ruin your teeth. It does not compromise the health of your teeth or the natural enamel. Though it isn’t a permanent fix. It will last for four to eight years, and in time it will start to fade or chip.
7. Why would you choose bonding?
If you are not using bonding to help fill a cavity, cosmetic bonding can help to change your smile. Many people become very self-conscious if they have chipped, broken or stained teeth. It can be a real problem if someone has a very public facing job. Bonding can help to fill chips, re-shape broken or cracked teeth or cover embarrassing stains. By using this relatively straight forward cosmetic dental procedure, it can transform someone’s physical look and help to restore their self-confidence.
8. Is bonding a major procedure? Will it hurt?
Bonding the front teeth is a relatively easy procedure and doesn’t take much to prepare the teeth. Dentist’s won’t need to use anesthetic for the treatment unless there is already some sort of restoration taken place on the tooth or there is decay present that they will have to remove. Unlike other procedures like amalgam fillings, veneers and crowns, having a bonding procedure on teeth is actually relatively painless. This is because the part of the tooth that the dentist applies the bonding is not a sensitive part.
9. Are veneers a better option for me?
Bonding is usually used if the changes that are needed are relatively small on one or two teeth that need a small amount of work. Veneers would be used if a patient need a large amount of work on several teeth.
10. How strong is bonding?
Bonding is made of a special type of plastic called composite resin. It is a really strong material and depending where you use it in your mouth and how you chew and bite, it can last for years. But it is not as strong as the natural enamel on your teeth. It is not as strong as porcelain used in veneers or crowns.
11. Can I reshape my teeth using bonding if I am whitening my teeth?
Bonding materials does not work on bonded teeth. If you did want your teeth whitened, then you would need to have both procedures done at the same time or within a couple of weeks of each other so all teeth are the same shade.
12. How much does it cost to get bonded fillings?
Bonding can be a lot cheaper than crowns or veneers, but it will all depend on what sort of work you need on your teeth and the look you want. If you can opt for bonding then it is a less invasive procedure than the other options and if you look after your teeth, it should last for years. It can cost between $100 and $400 per tooth, which makes it affordable, but the changes to someone smile using this form of treatment can be dramatic.
