703.478.9574Tooth Bonding
Reston and Arlington, VA
Tooth Bonding is a term that refers to both:
- A putty-like substance that can fill or reshape a tooth, and
- The process of doing that work.
Do you have a chipped tooth, or a slightly crooked one? Perhaps a small gap or a tooth that seems too small compared to its neighbors?
Dr. Katz uses a particular dental bonding material to correct all such problems. It comes in a variety of shades, so one can be chosen that matches your natural tooth color.
Click here for more information about Dental Bonding.
Tooth bonding as an alternative to porcelain veneers
Tooth bonding is another way of covering small defects.
- Bonding isn’t as strong as porcelain, nor as long-lasting
- It’s less stain-resistant
- It’s not a glass-like substance like porcelain, so it lacks that luster that makes porcelain so closely resemble tooth enamel
- It’s an easier, shorter, and less expensive procedure, taking only one visit
Porcelain veneers and crowns are spoken of as being “bonded” to your tooth, and that bonding substance, used as a cement, is slightly different from the visible tooth bonding substance used to fill a chip in a tooth, or to fill a gap between two teeth.
How tooth bonding is done
There is no anesthetic needed, unless you’re particularly sensitive, in which case you can have local anesthetic. Dr. Katz will choose a shade of bonding that matches your natural teeth.
- The teeth to be treated must first be scuffed, or roughened on their surface, to better accept the bonding
- A conditioning fluid is applied over the roughened surfaces
- The bonding material is applied and shaped to correct the problem
- A laser beam is used to cure the bonding, or harden it; this will be a cool, ultraviolet laser
- When the bonding is fully hardened, the entire tooth is polished to closely match the sheen of neighboring teeth
Caring for a bonded tooth
Tooth bonding will last anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on how well you care for it. You should brush and floss bonded teeth just as you would your natural teeth. If they eventually become a bit discolored or stained, they can be re-bonded.
Click here for more information about Dental Bonding.
For your bright and confident new smile, contact Dr. Katz and schedule a Free Smile Evaluation in Herndon, VA. He’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and together you can decide on the best tooth bonding procedure.
