Cosmetic bonding to repair and transform

Vanessa Giraud

2 years ago

Direct cosmetic bonding repairs and transforms. There’s a lot about this treatment to make you smile more!

It conserves your tooth
It’s less expensive than alternative treatments
Usually it takes only one visit to the dentist
It’s transformational

Whether it’s a chip or a broken tooth, worn enamel, uneven edges, dark triangles between your teeth and gums, a gap between front teeth or slightly crooked teeth, a skilled dentist can use cosmetic bonding to rebuild and reshape your teeth. Less invasive and less expensive than crowns and veneers, cosmetic bonding can make an attractive, healthy smile your reality.

An eye for detail, patience and a steady hand

In the hands of an experienced and talented dentist, cosmetic bonding can make a significant difference to the health and appearance of your teeth.

Dentist Nader Botros understands how even small enhancements can significantly improve the overall appearance of his patients’ teeth. He keeps up to date with advances in material development and techniques and enjoys seeing his patients’ surprise at the transformation he’s created.
Read more about Nader Botros here

A range of solutions

If you already have a white filling, then you know what a composite bonded dental restoration is. Patients and dentists have long appreciated the aesthetics of tooth-coloured composite fillings over grey amalgam fillings. Not only does a white filling look better, it also require less drilling because it adheres to natural tooth, whereas it is your actual tooth structure that holds amalgam in place.

Over the last twenty years, composite technology has advanced enormously, so there are different products to suit different applications. For example, some resins have smaller particles so their polished finish is ideal for front teeth, while others are more resistant to pressure making them better suited to molars. Considering appearance and function, your dentist selects the right materials for the best result.

The greatest advantage of direct dental composite is how it bonds with the tooth. It means that damaged teeth can be rebuilt, conserving as much of the original tooth as possible. Costly crowns are avoided and a healthy restoration placed in a single appointment.

How does cosmetic bonding work?

Planning
- During an initial consultation, your dentist will discuss a treatment plan with you and talk you through appropriate treatment options.
- Direct composite bonding is an excellent solution for an isolated problem, such as a chipped tooth, or to enhance several teeth.
- Your dentist may also recommend composite bonding as one part of a more complex treatment plan.
- In some cases, your dentist may recommend an alternative solution.
Building the new tooth, or teeth
- The dentist carefully considers the correct colour and shade.
- Then the dentist primes the tooth surface
- To create the new structure, the dentist builds up layers of the tooth-coloured composite and shapes it as required
Hardening the tooth
- New generation hand-held light wands bond and harden the composite
- The curing process for direct bonding is carefully monitored to protect teeth and gums
- The process of application and curing may be repeated several times to build up the structure
Finishing
- Polishing creates a smooth reflective surface to match natural dental enamel.

Clinical 'before and after' photographs of our patient

In the ‘before’ photograph, you’ll notice the patient’s broken front tooth, the result of a football accident. Sports injuries are a common cause of dental trauma. Nowadays, a skilled dentist can repair a fracture of this kind without the need for a more invasive crown.

In the ‘after’ photograph, you can see the beautifully reconstructed front tooth. Together, the dentist and patient made the decision to match the colour of the restoration to the brighter shade of the neighbouring tooth. With a front tooth in particular, the clinician considers carefully the effect of colour and shape.

Note: Clinical photographs are taken to record procedure, not for aesthetics. However, these photographs (cropped but otherwise unaltered) do show clearly the fantastic results a dentist can create.

Maintaining your new look

We recommend you review what you eat, drink, bite and chew on.

As teeth stain, so does composite. Keeping up a good oral health routine is a must. Also try to avoid staining foods and drink, such as tea, coffee, and curry. After every meal, rinse well, or drink a glass of water. Moreover, while natural teeth respond well to tooth whitening treatment, dental composite does not lighten again. If you have old composite restorations that are a different colour to your natural teeth, your dentist can resurface them.
Although the bonded material will feel and look like your natural teeth, it’s important to remember that it isn’t. Even harder than bone, dental enamel is strong enough to survive years of chewing and biting if we look after our teeth diligently to keep them healthy. Your cosmetic restoration isn’t as strong and may chip or break. Biting your nails or chewing ice, for example, can damage them.

Get in touch

If you would like to book an appointment to learn more about cosmetic bonding from our dentist, please get in touch!
Get in touch!