Your Useful and Informative Guide to Composite Bonding Treatment

Modern dentistry has improved a lot in the recent times. As a result there is no more the need to go for a replacement of a chipped, worn down, damaged or discoloured tooth. Cosmetic dentistry offers procedures like bonding to restore a tooth to its former glory. Moreover the procedure is minimally invasive and comes with almost zero overhead.

In the following sections of the blog post, let us explore composite dental bonding – one of the wonders of modern cosmetic dentistry.

Composite bonding – what is it actually?

It is a procedure widely used in both cosmetic and restorative dentistry. It builds up composite resin layers to perform its task. The procedure is ideal to bring about small cosmetic changes. Both dentists and patients prefer it because of certain advantages it offers. We will get into those reasons afterwards. The procedure can correct a lot of problems including the following –

Reshaping a tooth
Hide out the problem of teeth discolouration
Repairs chipped, damaged and worn out tooth like nothing else
Makes a crooked tooth appear straighter as well as aligned
Provides finishing touches to the teeth once orthodontic treatment is over

About the procedure

The treatment procedure involves a number of steps which are –

Thorough examination of your teeth – first the dentist will take a close look at the tooth or teeth you want to undergo the procedure. Based on the findings he or she will draw up a strategy to execute the procedure.
Preparation involved in the treatment – the tooth surface needs to be roughened and etched in order to ensure the composite material bonds better. This is done by applying a gel. Then the composite is applied to the tooth, which is usually done in stages. In the next step it is sculpted to give a definite shape. The sculpting process ensures precise restoration of the tooth or teeth keeping in sync with the other neighbouring ones. Bit by bit application that involves the procedure makes it so attractive and also enables deliver such accurate results.
Finishing touches are given – last but nevertheless the least, the pigments are carefully matched with the shade of your tooth and the area is hardened by applying a blue light or UV ray. Thus you leave the practice immediately after the procedure with a brand new smile and get involved in your normal activities right away.

The benefits of the procedure

The procedure is very generous when it comes to offering benefits to patients. Its benefits include the following –

Assured to provide absolutely natural-looking results – expertise of a dentist performing this procedure depends on carefully layering the composite resin to match the subtle properties of reflection of light of the natural tooth enamel.
Minimally invasive procedure – cosmetic bonding does require removing or scrapping away a part of the tooth enamel. But this quantity is much less compared to that in veneers.
Fast procedure – the entire procedure gets over as quickly as in an hour. Moreover it does not require any follow up appointment or post treatment checkups. In contrast to this cosmetic dentistry treatment, procedures like veneers and crowns need at least two appointments to complete, if not more.
Affordability – cosmetic teeth bonding is an easily affordable procedure. It is pretty reasonably priced compared to veneers.

Disadvantages it offers

In spite of the advantages discussed above, the procedure offers certain disadvantages. These include the following –

Easily picks up stains – with composite bonding you have to be cautious with your diet and lifestyle. This is because unlike veneers it is easily prone to stains. Apart from restricted dietary habits and lifestyle you have to be regimental with brushing and flossing the teeth to keep unsightly stains away from your bonded tooth or teeth. Since veneers are exceptionally resistant to stains you do not have to be bothered with these factors.
Prone to get damaged easily – a bonded tooth can get damaged or chipped easily. You have to be conscious about that for obvious reason. Moreover it is important to kick away few unhygienic habits when you are on composite bonding. The habits include the following – chewing on ice, biting fingernails, chewing on the tip of a pen or pencil, opening beer bottles using the teeth and not using a bottle opener. If you are taking part in any contact sports, do wear a mouth guard to protect not only the bonded tooth or teeth but also the other ones. Although a bonded tooth is more easily prone to damage, it can also be repaired easily and fast.

Aftercare involved

If you get it into your head that a bonded tooth is more easily subjected to chipping and staining, taking its care and maintenance become easier. Thankfully there is no special procedure involved in taking care of it. In order to make sure that your bonded tooth lasts easily for years together it is better to follow the tips below –

Brushing – brush the teeth twice a day each for approximately 2 minutes. Brush in the morning before starting your day and then brush at night before retiring to bed. Learn the right way of brushing to get rid of films of tartars, harmful bacteria and stuck food particles from the teeth. While brushing the teeth also clean the tongue thoroughly. Visit your dentist on routine dental appointments every six months. Have the teeth professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist at least once a year.
Flossing – floss once daily without fail. Floss along the gum line and between the teeth adjacent to the bonded one. Consider using an inter-dental tooth brush if flossing is taxing on you.
Drink plenty of water – according to dentists providing composite bonding treatment in London, the majority of people are ignorant about the crucial role normal water plays in keeping the mouth healthy and free from diseases. Drink plenty of water every day in short intervals and specially after eating or drinking something. This washes away the food particles as well as the harmful bacteria that are likely to damage the teeth including the bonded ones.

In addition to the tips shared above, avoid smoking and limit your intake of popular beverages like red wine, coffee and sugary drinks. These are highly responsible for staining your bonded tooth.