Dental bonding: how does it work?

A smile can work wonders for your confidence but if you have chips, tooth damage or discoloured teeth, you may feel a little awkward about saying cheese. Some people may only require small cosmetic fixes as opposed to extensive dental work to achieve that optimal smile.

Cosmetic bonding is a simple procedure that can repair and refine teeth with minimal, if any, loss to the natural tooth enamel. We’ve asked expert dentist Dr Mark Hughes to explain how the treatment works and the advantages versus disadvantages of dental bonding.
 

What can cosmetic bonding treat?

Cosmetic bonding is an easy solution that can drastically improve the look of a smile. The process is simple as the dentist will select a shade of resin to match the natural shade of your teeth and then lightly sands the tooth that will be bonded. We can achieve an array of goals with bonding, which include:

• Repairing minor cracks, chips and fissures
• Masking tooth stains and discolouration
• Restoring the proportions of a full and healthy tooth shape
• Minimising the appearance of gaps between teeth
• Making conservative smile makeovers
   

What are the advantages of cosmetic bonding?

Cosmetic bonding can:

• Usually be completed within one to two office visits
• Rarely creates discomfort
• Preserves most of the natural tooth structure
• Is virtually reversible in most cases
• Is cost-effective compared to having porcelain veneers or restorations
   

What are the disadvantages of cosmetic bonding?

The disadvantages of cosmetic bonding may include:

• Not as much of a ‘polished finish’ in comparison to treatments that use porcelain, such as veneers
• Less resistant to staining compared to porcelain material
• Requires experience and a high level of skill to execute
• May require more frequent replacement unlike other treatments
• Creates a less dramatic aesthetic change
• Only suitable for some individuals
   

What happens during the process?

There are usually three to four steps to the cosmetic bonding process:

1. Smile design and prototyping (sometimes not done in simple cases)
2. Smile “test drive”
3. Placement of the bonding
4. Review, adjust and fine polish

The process is usually very straightforward. Once the cosmetic bonding has been determined to fulfil the goals of the treatment and we have the new smile prototype, we begin to clean and prepare the tooth. This involves applying a solution to the tooth so that we can create an ideal bonding surface.

After the tooth is properly cleaned and ready for bonding we will coat it with a thin coat of resin to ensure it adequately fills in the damaged areas. I use my aesthetic expertise to sculpt the resin to create the desired tooth shape.

Lastly, a resin which will be colour-matched to your natural tooth enamel is applied, for a seamless and polish result. The process generally takes between one to three hours but it depends on the numbers of teeth we are bonding and the unique needs of the patient.
 

Does cosmetic bonding require any maintenance?

Cosmetic bonding is designed to be a durable treatment that can last five to 10 years with proper oral hygiene and regular check-ups with your dentist. As with your natural teeth, the required maintenance is daily brushing and flossing and routine visits to the dental hygienist and dental examinations.

Bonding work is however far less resistant to staining than porcelain veneers and may need to be retouched or replaced over the coming years. The longevity of the results depends on good oral hygiene habits, teeth whitening and a diet containing fewer tooth-staining agents.



Interested in having cosmetic bonding? Do not hesitate to book an appointment with Dr Hughes at his London clinic.