Dental bonding is a transformative cosmetic procedure used to change your teeth’ appearance to improve aesthetics. Many patients are unhappy with their smile for various reasons, including orthodontic misalignment, damage, tooth stains, or misshapen teeth.
Dental bonding works by applying a tooth-colored composite resin material and molding it to the teeth to build up the tooth structure, filling in cracks, covering up eroded enamel, and hiding any other imperfections that you don’t want others to see.
Composite resin is the same durable material used in tooth-colored fillings. This fast, minimally invasive, and painless procedure repairs, enlarges, lengthens, and smooths out your natural tooth structure.
It is often combined with tooth contouring (enameloplasty) which is the careful removal of natural tooth enamel with a dental drill. This is how a tooth transformation in size and shape is achieved. Contact us at Driftwood Dental Studio today to schedule a consultation.
Your dentist will clean and numb your mouth, and then begin to trim away a thin layer of enamel from the two teeth next to your missing tooth. These are known as “abutment teeth” and they will hold your crowns. Your bridge will permanently attach to these crowns.
Once your abutment teeth have been prepared, your dentist will use a digital scanner to take an impression of your teeth. These impressions will be used by a technician at a dental lab to build your dental bridge.
Depending on your needs, your dentist will place a temporary resin bridge to protect your prepared abutment teeth, or two temporary dental crowns. Either way, your prepared teeth will be covered and protected until your permanent bridge can be placed.
Once your permanent bridge is ready, usually within a few weeks, you’ll come into the office to have the bridge checked for proper fit. Minor adjustments may be made by your dentist, if necessary, to ensure that your bridge looks and feels natural. If the bridge requires larger adjustments, it will be sent back to the lab for further refinement.
Once you and your dentist have determined that the fit of your bridge feels right, they will use powerful dental cement to attach it permanently to your abutment teeth, restoring your smile and your bite.
Get the pearly white teeth you’ve always dreamed of without continuous whitening treatments. By selecting a whiter shade of composite resin, you can hide any tooth stains or discoloration that are disrupting your smile and this will last for up to 10 years before needing to be reapplied.
Whether you grind your teeth, have suffered from oral trauma, or you’ve worn down your teeth from eating too many acidic foods, enamel erosion and tooth damage put your teeth at risk for breakage and oral health problems.
It’s important to protect your teeth and fill in the cracks to prevent bacteria from entering the inside of the teeth. Bonding will add a protective layer over your teeth to repair damage and minimize the unaesthetic appearance of chips.
When teeth are overlapping or are crooked, it can make it more difficult to keep your teeth clean. This puts you at higher risk for tooth decay by trapping food particles and orthodontic problems can even affect your speech. Instead of paying thousands of dollars for orthodontic treatment, we can close small gaps and cover misalignment with dental bonding in a single appointment.
Make your teeth larger, longer, rounder, or more defined. Achieve any tooth size or shape that you want with the ability to transform each tooth from a small jagged and sharp appearance to a uniform and even smile.
A Maryland bridge does not require any removal of enamel or preparation of the adjacent teeth. In this treatment, a false tooth is built using a metal framework with “wings” that attach to the adjacent teeth. These “wings” are attached to the backs of your teeth using dental cement, holding the false tooth in place and restoring your smile. Maryland bridges are commonly used in the front teeth, and are ideal if you would like to restore your smile without any invasive dental treatment.
Dental bonding can be used to correct several oral issues like tooth fractures, discoloration, awkward tooth shape & shape, and orthodontic problems. However, it has limits. This procedure may not work if you have severe oral issues, like gum disease and tooth decay.
You may need to undergo other dental restorative treatments before seeking dental bonding. These include veneers, dental crowns, and bridges.
Dental bonding in Mukilteo is a two-stage procedure used to repair discolored, cracked, chipped, and misaligned teeth. During the first stage, your dentist will prepare your tooth for treatment. Unless your tooth is severely decayed, numbing won’t be necessary.
Your dentist at Driftwood Dental Studio will then choose a composite resin that blends with the color of your natural teeth. A little roughening is done to the tooth surface before administering the bonding material.
Once the resin is applied to the tooth surface, it’s molded, shaped, and hardened with laser light. The entire dental bonding procedure can usually be completed in a single appointment, which takes about half an hour to one hour.
Dental bonds are designed to provide long-lasting results. However, the longevity of this treatment varies from individual to individual. And it depends on several factors, such as your oral hygiene habits and the area of your mouth bonded. On average, it can last between five and 10 years before you need any touch-ups.
Bonded teeth usually require special care and maintenance to preserve their appearance and avoid damage to the bonding material. Caring for your bonded teeth can also help you get the most out of your treatment. Here are a few tips for caring for your bonded teeth:
• Maintain good oral habits, such as regular brushing and flossing
• Limit acidic and sugary foods
• Avoid chewing or biting on hard objects
• Visit your dentist for routine examinations and cleanings
The cost of dental bonding can vary depending on the extent of the procedure, the amount of material used, and the dentist’s expertise. Note that some insurance companies won’t cover dental bonding because they consider it a cosmetic procedure.
So it’s important to check with your insurer before booking an appointment. Your dental bonding dentist can evaluate these factors and prepare a custom quote for you.
Dental bonding can be an excellent choice if you’re uncomfortable with your smile due to fractures, chips, cracks, or discoloration. Dr. Rebecca Butler of Driftwood Dental Studio is experienced in dental bonding and can help bond your teeth to improve your smile.
Ready to get started? Contact us at (425) 584-5561 to schedule your next appointment.