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Aesthetic Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately "bonds" the material to the tooth to restore or improve your smile.
Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:

• To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
• To repair chipped or cracked teeth
• To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
• To close spaces between teeth
• To make teeth look longer
• To change the shape of teeth
• As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
• To protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede

Dental bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Unlike veneers and crowns, which are customized tooth coverings that must be manufactured in a laboratory, bonding usually can be done in one office visit unless several teeth are involved. Another advantage, compared with veneers and crowns, is that the least amount of tooth enamel is removed. Also, unless dental bonding is being performed to fill a cavity, anesthesia is usually not required.

However, there are several disadvantages. Although the material used in dental bonding is somewhat stain resistant, it does not resist stains as well as crowns. Additionally, the bonding materials do not last as long nor are as strong as other restorative procedures, such as crowns, veneers, or fillings.

Because of some of the limitations of dental bonding, some dentists view it as best suited for small cosmetic changes, temporary correction of cosmetic defects, or for the correction of teeth in areas of very low bite pressure (for example, front teeth).