Dental Bonding Benefits and Disadvantages By Mark Davis on November 20, 2012

Dental bonding is a treatment designed to improve the aesthetics of the teeth. The procedure involves the application of a tooth-colored resin to the surface of the teeth to adjust the shape, brighten the teeth, or mask other dental flaws. This resin is shaped to create a perfectly proportioned tooth. Dental bonding can do wonders for your smile and self esteem. North Scottsdale cosmetic dentists Mark and Monika Davis offer an overview of the benefits and disadvantages of dental bonding.

The Benefits of Dental Bonding

Dental bonding offers many benefits. Here are just a few of the most prominent benefits.

Instantly improves your smile: Dental bonding can dramatically improve your smile in as little as one dental visit. Treatment typically takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth so you can have a completely new smile instantly!
Masks flaws: Dental bonding treatment masks flaws like misshaped teeth, gaps between teeth, or other irregularities.
Increases confidence: Possibly one of the most significant benefits of dental bonding is the increased self-confidence you will feel from having a beautiful smile.
Repair minor damage: Minor decay, chips, and cracks can be repaired with dental bonding treatment for a flawless smile.
Whitens teeth: Dental bonding can be used to whiten teeth. This is especially helpful for those who have not been able to achieve the desired level of whitening with professional treatments.
Long lasting: The composite resin used for dental bonding is extremely durable and with proper care will last from 10 to 15 years.

The Disadvantages of Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is considered to be very safe, however, there are some risks to be aware of when deciding if dental bonding is right for you.

Possibility of wearing down: Though dental bonding is long lasting, the composite resin will eventually wear down, chip, or break. You can help prolong the life of your dental bonding treatment by avoiding hard and sticky foods, and habitual chewing on hard objects such as pen caps or your nails.
Possibility of allergic reaction: Allergic reactions to the materials used during the dental bonding process are rare but remain a possibility.
Avoid teeth whitening after bonding: Teeth whitening should be done prior to dental bonding treatment as it is easier to match the composite resin to the shade of your teeth than it is to try to bleach your teeth to match the dental bonding.

Alternatives to Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is not the only treatment option to improve the aesthetics of your teeth. For our patients in North Scottsdale, porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are great alternatives. Porcelain veneers are thin shells, shaped to cover the front teeth. They can be used to hide imperfections, close gaps between teeth, and create straight smiles. Porcelain crowns are often used to restore the integrity and appearance of damaged teeth. Porcelain crowns are custom-made tooth shaped prosthetics. They work by completely encapsulating the tooth to protect it from further damage.