Composite Dental Bonding

Composite dental bonding is a direct restorative and cosmetic technique that uses tooth-colored resin to repair or reshape a tooth. It can often be completed without a dental laboratory and, in many cases, with minimal alteration of healthy enamel.

What is composite bonding used for?

Bonding can be useful for minor chips, worn edges, small gaps, localized discoloration, irregular contours and selected areas of enamel loss. It can also be used for tooth-colored fillings when decay or a defective restoration needs to be repaired.

What happens during treatment?

The tooth is cleaned and prepared for bonding. Composite is selected and layered to recreate the desired shape, then hardened with a curing light. The restoration is refined so the bite, contour, texture and transitions into the natural tooth feel appropriate.

How much enamel is removed?

Often very little. One of the advantages of direct composite is that material can be added rather than requiring the entire surface of the tooth to be reduced. The exact preparation depends on what is being corrected and whether old restorative material or damaged enamel needs to be removed.

How does composite compare with porcelain?

Composite is generally more conservative, less expensive and easier to repair. Porcelain veneers may offer greater color stability and different optical properties for larger cosmetic changes. Neither option is universally better.

Maintenance

Composite can pick up surface stain, wear or chip over time. Polishing and small repairs are often possible. Avoiding habits such as biting fingernails, opening packages with the teeth or chewing ice can help protect the restoration.

Dental bonding in Palo Alto

Dr. Sharma can evaluate whether bonding is enough to accomplish the goal or whether whitening, orthodontics or a ceramic restoration would be more predictable.

Request an appointment to discuss conservative cosmetic dentistry.