Composite or cosmetic bonding is a treatment where your dentist adds a special colored resin to your teeth to improve their appearance.
It is pain-free, no anesthesia is needed, and there is no permanent alteration to the natural tooth structure, as no drilling is necessary.
Using modern materials and simple techniques, composite bonding is an affordable and faster alternative to dental crowns or veneers, as it can be done in one visit to the dentist, saving you time and money.
1. Composite Bonding For Crooked Teeth
Composite bonding can help to improve the appearance of slightly crooked teeth. By adding some composite resin in strategic places, your dentist can hide or mascarade misaligned teeth, improving the appearance of your smile.
However, please keep in mind that correcting minor position problems with composite bonding is possible.
When teeth are more severely misaligned, we recommend orthodontic treatment before bonding.
2. Composite Bonding For Bottom Teeth
Composite bonding can be used to improve the bottom teeth’ aesthetic, but some factors need to be considered before doing it, like the patient’s bite and how the top and bottom teeth meet.
Dental bonding is not a good option if the patient has bruxism or suffers from teeth grinding because the composite resin is not strong enough to resist the forces and may fracture.
3. Can Composite Bonding Close Gaps In My Front Teeth?
Yes! Composite bonding is an excellent option for closing small gaps between teeth. You can achieve excellent results with bonding for a single gap or multiple small gaps between all the teeth.
Your dentist places the composite resin on the teeth, closing the gaps between them or making them more discrete if it is impossible to close them completely.
However, the dentist might consider a quick orthodontic treatment before bonding if the gap is too big to avoid extremely big or disproportional teeth.
4. Composite Bonding Versus Veneers
Some differences between composite bondings and veneers need to be considered by both the dentist and the patient before going ahead with any treatment.
Here are the most important ones:
Differences Between Composite Bonding & Veneers
Composite Bonding
- Non-invasive treatment. No drilling or permanent damage to the natural teeth is done, and they can be easily repaired if needed.
- It offers immediate results, as it can be done in one visit to the dentist.
- Cheaper than porcelain veneers. Composite bonding is £275 per tooth.
- It lasts 5 to 7 years if the patient takes good care of it.
Veneers
- Veneers are irreversible because the tooth needs to be drilled to ensure a perfect fit.
- Veneers typically require at least two visits, with a few weeks between them, allowing technicians time to prepare the veneer in the dental laboratory.
- The cost of a porcelain veneer is £800 per tooth.
- Porcelain veneers are expected to last at least 10 years.
- Porcelain veneers are significantly more durable than composite bondings.
The best way to determine which solution is right for you is to talk to your dentist about your aesthetic goals.
If you’re looking for the most cost-effective solution, then composite bonding is a perfect fit.
However, if the patient has a severe aesthetic problem and is looking for a long-lasting solution, then porcelain veneers might be the best option.
5. Does It Hurt?
Composite bonding is pain-free. No injection is necessary, and there is no drilling in the natural teeth.
The composite resin will be added to the clean surface of the tooth and gently polished at the end.
6. What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages Of Composite Bonding?
Advantages
- Painless procedure – No injections required
- No drilling – The tooth structure is preserved
- Durability – Bonding is expected to last between 5 to 7 years if the patient takes good care of it and regularly visits the hygienist.
- No necessary lab work can be done in one visit to the dentist.
- Price – Cheaper than other cosmetic treatments
Disadvantages
- It is not as strong as other cosmetic materials – the bonding can break or chip under pressure.
- Composite resin can stain under certain habits and pigments, like smoking or frequent coffee/tea drinking. Some types of food and drinks can also cause discoloration of the composite.
- Compared to the 15 years that a porcelain veneer is expected to last, it is short.