If you have a chipped, slightly misaligned, or otherwise imperfect tooth that needs cosmetic restoration, we may suggest one-appointment bonding. Dr. Chris Hill can apply liquid composite resin, shaded to blend with your tooth’s color, to rebuild a pleasing shape to your tooth. After hardening the resin with a curing light, he will artistically polish the restoration. In just one visit, you can enjoy a beautiful new smile! Cosmetic bonding can be a viable, affordable alternative to porcelain veneers and last 5 to 10 years with proper care. Bonding will not discolor as your natural tooth enamel will, so touch-up teeth whitening may be required to keep your natural teeth the same shade as the bonded area.
Do you want to learn whether bonding is right for you? Please call (314) 678-7876 (Downtown St. Louis) or (314) 678-7876 (Clayton) today for an appointment with St. Louis cosmetic dentist Dr. Chris Hill at either our downtown or Clayton office.
Teeth Bonding Uses
Dental bonding, also called tooth or teeth bonding, is a very versatile cosmetic treatment. It may be considered to fix many common dental issues, including:
- To repair decayed teeth (resins are used to fill cavities)
- To repair chipped or cracked teeth
- To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
- To close spaces between teeth
- To make teeth look longer
- To change the shape of teeth
- As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
- To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede
Bonding makes a great repair option, but it can also be used for cosmetic applications. Some people select dental bonding as a temporary treatment, but it can also be a long-term solution to many cosmetic complaints you may have about your smile.
Benefits of Tooth Bonding
Tooth bonding is a good procedure to use in many situations. People choose tooth bonding because of benefits like:
- Speed
- Cost
- Appearance
Bonding also has the benefit of being less expensive than other treatments. It’s a good value for the price in many situations.
Dental bonding can also look good. It would have to, or it wouldn’t be useful for the many cosmetic applications where it’s used.
Limits of Tooth Bonding
But tooth bonding isn’t always the best treatment approach. Tooth bonding is not as strong as ceramic restorations, so it’s not good in situations where it would be subjected to high forces.
Its softness means it can wear away. This isn’t just on occlusal surfaces: it can lose its polish and need to be repolished to restore its toothlike luster.
And bonding is vulnerable to staining, although not as much as your tooth enamel. Over time, it can become stained.
Tooth Bonding Consultation
Dr. Chris Hill can determine if you are a candidate for dental bonding and if your dental problems can be solved with bonding. We first will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth that may involve x-rays and an evaluation of your teeth and gums. During this consultation, Dr. Chris Hill will determine whether your concerns can be resolved with cosmetic bonding. If your teeth are severely damaged, Dr. Chris Hill may recommend an alternative treatment that meets your long-term goals.
Dental bonding is one of the most common and least expensive cosmetic dental procedures. The process can usually be done in one short office visit depending on how many teeth are involved. An additional advantage to bonding is that when compared to the alternatives such as veneers and crowns, the procedure tends to be much more conservative.
