Dental bonding offers a long-lasting solution to cosmetically improving the appearance of chipped or discolored teeth. 

Dental bonding is a procedure in cosmetic dentistry that can be a cost-effective way to regain confidence in your smile. Everybody wants to ensure their teeth look healthy and strong. For people who are self-conscious about their smile — whether it’s because of discoloration, misshapen teeth, or another minor flaw — dental bonding offers a long-lasting solution.

What is dental bonding? 

Dental bonding uses natural-looking resin to improve the appearance of misshapen or discolored teeth. Because dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure, it isn’t used to correct severe dental damage that may require a crown. 

Some common reasons for dental bonding include: 

• Chipped teeth. A minor chip in your tooth may not be painful, but it can certainly be an annoyance. Dental bonding is a common solution for chipped teeth that aren’t severely damaged. 
• Discoloration. If you are self-conscious about yellowing teeth, your dentist’s first suggestion will be a variety of teeth-whitening procedures. However, if teeth whitening fails, dental bonding can be used reliably to whiten your smile. 
• Gaps in your teeth. With dental bonding, gaps can be easily filled by adding a small amount of resin that blends in with the natural color of your tooth. 
• Misshapen teeth. If your teeth appear too small or spaced out, dental bonding can quickly add to the mass of your teeth for larger, more natural-looking teeth. 

Dental bonding isn’t the solution to every dental concern. For serious crookedness, your dentist will likely recommend a corrective solution like braces or Invisalign. However, for minor tooth-related concerns, bonding can be an effective and satisfying solution. 

How does dental bonding work? 

The process of dental bonding is quite simple. First, your dentist will select a color of resin that matches the color of your tooth. Then, your dentist will apply a chemical to etch your enamel, a painless process which will allow the resin to attach easily to the surface of your tooth.

Once your enamel is ready for dental bonding, your dentist will apply soft enamel to the surface of the tooth, and sculpt the enamel until your dental bonding looks natural. After the resin is shaped, your dentist will harden the resin with a UV light, and file down any minor flaws. 

Dental bonding is an efficient process that takes less than an hour per tooth. There will be no major anesthetics involved — although your dentist may need to inject a local anesthetic if the bonding occurs at a sensitive spot. 

What happens after dental bonding? 

Once you have undergone dental bonding, you can enjoy a bright and natural-looking smile. Resin-based bonding will often last for over five years — sometimes much longer.

Of course, the lifespan of dental bonding will depend on how well you take care of your teeth. Make sure to avoid biting hard objects that could chip your resin, and refrain from adopting a highly acidic or sugary diet. If you are prone to teeth grinding, talk to your dentist about acquiring a mouth guard. 

At Espire, we offer dental bonding and other cosmetic dental procedures at affordable prices across the Denver Metro. To keep your teeth healthy after your bonding procedure, our Espire dentists offer professional teeth cleanings with a patient focus. 

If you’re self-conscious about misshapen or yellowing teeth, request an appointment at Espire today. Your smile is too important to wait