Should I Have Tooth Bonding Done on My Front Teeth?

By Dr. Michael Handler

Few patients in this day and age are prepared to walk around with a chipped tooth or a large gap between their front teeth. It’s not necessary, either, since there are now so many ways to improve your smile. Direct resin bonding is one option used extensively on front teeth to resolve these problems.

What is Tooth Bonding?

With direct resin bonding, the dentist applies tooth-coloured resin material to your damaged tooth. The resin is attached using adhesive and cured with a high-intensity light, which causes the material to “bond” to the tooth. This is a safe way to restore chipped front teeth or to fill up that gap that causes you unhappiness. Many types of composite resin are BPA-free, which also makes them safer in the long term.

How Long Does Tooth Bonding Last?

Bonding on the front teeth can last between 4 and 8 years, depending on the location of the bonded tooth, your bite, and your eating habits. It’s usually better to avoid biting directly into your food, particularly hard consumables that can compromise the structure of the dental bonding.

What Does Tooth Bonding Cost?

The average cost of dental bonding ranges between $200 to $400 per tooth. Depending on your reason for having this treatment, your insurance might pay for a percentage of it. When your dentist recommends this for structural reasons or to fill a cavity, you’re more likely to obtain coverage than if it’s for cosmetic reasons. Tooth bonding usually only requires one visit to your dental practitioner.

Managing Your Direct Resin Bonding

Maintaining your smile is as important as restoring it, so after you’ve undergone (and paid for) tooth bonding the last thing you want is for it to discolour. Unlike natural tooth enamel, the bonding material is nonporous. Stains develop when various coloured substances penetrate the surface pores of the teeth. Since porcelain and bonding resin are nonporous, they don't change color, but they can become stained. This means that while your tooth bonding can discolour, it can’t be whitened, which could result in a dull, grey appearance over time.

Is Bonding Better than Veneers?

Veneers are made from a thin layer of dental porcelain, which replaces the enamel and is bonded to the underlying natural tooth. These generally achieve a better appearance than composite bonding, and the porcelain doesn’t stain. Veneers are typically a lot more expensive than bonding, however, so if budget is a concern then bonding is a good solution for you.

Does Tooth Bonding Hurt?

This procedure generally doesn’t involve pain, mostly because the part of the tooth the dentist works on has very little sensitivity. This means no anesthesia is required, which makes the procedure a safer option than some others. As a result, there’s no recovery time either, although patients are usually advised to avoid smoking cigarettes, drinking tea, coffee, or red wine for 48 hours after the procedure, as well as any other foods and beverages that might stain the teeth.

Benefits of Bonding

Some of the reasons tooth bonding is popular with patients is:

• Cost - It’s one of the least expensive cosmetic processes you can get.
• Time – Bonding can be done in a single office visit, instead of the time it takes to prepare and fit dental veneers.
• Pain – the procedure in uninvasive and generally requires very little tooth removal. On occasion, patients can elect to have several teeth bonded during a single appointment.

Disadvantages

• Accumulating stains: Although you can get great results with bonding, the resin bonding does tend to stain after a time. Dental crowns and veneers will be a much more stain-resistant option.
• Durability: Crowns and veneers are tougher and less easy to break, which means they usually last much longer than bonding.

To determine whether tooth bonding is appropriate for you, schedule an appointment with our dentist in Scarborough at 416-267-4661, or click here to book online.

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