Dental Bonding In Cibolo
If you have a stained, misshapen, uneven, or slightly-chipped tooth, dental bonding from Dr. Niraj Patel is a great way to restore your smile. Whether you need to treat a single tooth or multiple teeth, this fast, affordable, and non-invasive cosmetic treatment allows you to completely transform your smile in just a single appointment. Contact us online to schedule a consultation at Cibolo Family Smiles right away.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure used to treat a wide variety of flaws in your smile. Depending on your situation, it may be used to treat misshapen teeth, chipped teeth, gaps in your smile, severely stained and yellowed teeth, and uneven or slightly crooked teeth.
Dental bonding uses a composite material to reshape your tooth. This is similar to the process of a dental filling. But instead of filling a cavity in your tooth, the composite material is applied to the exterior of the tooth to alter its shape, cover up stains, and enhance your smile.
This treatment has a number of great benefits compared to other cosmetic dentistry options, like porcelain veneers. It’s faster, and can be done in just a single appointment, and it’s also much less invasive, since no natural enamel needs to be removed to prepare for treatment. Bonding is also more affordable than veneers, since the treatment process is less complex and doesn’t involve any outside dental labs.
For all of these reasons and quite a few more, dental bonding may be a good option if you’d like to restore one or more teeth in Cibolo, Schertz, or the surrounding areas.
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What Do I Do If I Chip A Tooth?
This depends on how deep the chip is. If your tooth has a minor surface chip that does not reach the dentin (the second layer of your tooth structure), you may be able to have it repaired with dental bonding, or with a porcelain veneer, depending on the situation.
However, this is not the case if your tooth chip is very large, and has destroyed your enamel and dentin. If you have a very deep and severe chip in your tooth, cosmetic treatments like porcelain veneers and dental bonding can’t be used.
Instead, Dr. Patel will likely recommend a dental crown to restore your tooth. Dental crowns are false teeth made of porcelain, and they are designed to completely cover up the damaged tooth all the way down to the gum line. A crown provides superior protection compared to bonding or a veneer, so crowns are a better choice for protecting a severely damaged tooth.
Is Dental Bonding Permanent?
Dental bonding is not permanent, at least compared to treatments like veneers. However, it is very long lasting. You can typically expect a bonded tooth to last up to 10 years with proper dental care and oral hygiene.
If your bonded tooth ever fails or cracks, it’s easy to have it replaced and restored by Dr. Niraj Patel, so while it may not last quite as long as a veneer, you’ll still enjoy a long-lasting smile solution.
What Is The Dental Bonding Process?
The dental bonding process begins with a consultation with Dr. Patel. At this consultation, he will examine your teeth and may take x-rays to make sure you don’t have extensive damage or infected dental pulp which would require a root canal. If you have severe damage, dental crowns may be more suitable for you.
We’ll then use a shade guide to match the composite resin to your natural teeth. We will prepare your tooth for bonding by roughening the tooth surface and applying a conditioning liquid. This encourages the adhesive to bond to the tooth.
Composite resin is then applied to and molded to the tooth. Once the resin has been sculpted as desired, a UV light will be used to cure it. After hardening, additional sculpting and trimming can be performed and the tooth will be polished. This process takes from 30-60 minutes per tooth.
What Dental Issues Can Bonding Address?
Bonding can address a wide variety of cosmetic imperfections and can restore the structure of damaged teeth. Common issues that bonding cover-up include:
- Discoloration
- Chips/cracks
- GapsMinor crooked teeth
- Teeth that are too small
- Oddly shaped teeth
- Teeth that are too sharp or round
- Cover up an exposed root
Tooth bonding is a non-invasive and painless method of altering the shape, size, and overall appearance of the teeth. It’s much more affordable than dental crowns or veneers and typically does not require any drilling or anesthetic.
How To Care For A Newly Bonded Tooth
Caring for your newly bonded teeth is a matter of preventing staining and wear and tear. The best way to prevent staining is to avoid smoking and consuming staining foods and drinks that are highly pigmented, contain tannins or are very acidic. Examples of such foods and drinks include:
- Coffee/tea
- Red wine
- Soy sauce
- Tomato sauces
- Balsamic vinegar
- Soda
- Berries
- Fruit juices
Because composite resin is a temporary material that degrades over time, you must mitigate the amount of wear and tear it encounters. If you grind your teeth, you are not the best candidate for dental bonding.
You will need to be diligent in wearing a mouthguard to prevent your bonded teeth from cracking or chipping. You should also avoid chewing on excessively hard or sticky foods which can damage or dislodge your bonding. Your teeth are for chewing food, so never use them to open packages or chew on your nails.
Finally, practice good oral hygiene just like you would for your natural teeth. This means brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste for at least 2 minutes, twice a day. You should thoroughly floss between each of your teeth once a day, and remember to brush your tongue. The ADA recommends regular dental cleanings and checkups every 6 months.