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What Is Tooth Bonding | How Long Does Dental Bonding Last

Dr. Silverman • Apr 09, 2019

Your dentist recommended tooth bonding, but you're not exactly sure what you should be expecting from you first procedure. Here's everything you need to know!

tooth bonding

In 2016, about 64% of adults paid a trip to their dentist.

Perhaps you were one of those adults, and your dentist noticed that one of your teeth was cracked or decaying.

Your dentist may have recommended tooth bonding, but you're not exactly sure what you should be expecting from your first procedure. Here's everything you need to know!

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Before you head into your procedure, understanding what it is should help you feel more prepared.

To bond your teeth, your dentist will apply a resin or plastic that is the same color as your tooth. They normally do this to repair teeth that are damaged, decaying, chipped, discolored, or fractured. Sometimes this can even be used to fill small cavities because it is more appealing than the silver fillings.

Now here is what you should expect from your visit.

1. The Procedure

Unless you are having tooth bonding for a decaying tooth, you most likely won't need anesthesia. You also won't need to do anything to prepare for this procedure. This procedure normally takes about a half hour to an hour to finish, and you can have it done in just one visit.

However, if more than one tooth needs to be repaired, you may need to have several visits.

While the dentist prepares your tooth, he will put on the putty-type resin on your tooth. It should match the color of your tooth and blend right in.

They will smooth and mold it to fit the shape of your tooth to make it look natural. Once it's in the proper shape, the dentist will use ultraviolet light or a laser to harden the resin.

Once it's hardened, your dentist will continue to shape and mold it to make sure that it looks just like your other teeth. Then they will polish it so that they make sure it matches the sheen of your other teeth.

2. How Long it Lasts

Another question you may have is about how long the dental bonding will last.

However, this answer depends on where your tooth needs repairing. For example, if you needed the bonding on the edge of your tooth, it may not last a very long time because it will be exposed to whatever food you bite into.

This means that anything hard, crunchy, or chewy will slowly damage and weaken it.

If the bonding is at the end of one of your front teeth, you will need to be careful about what you bite into.

However, if the bonding is somewhere that won't be affected by your diet and chewing, there is a good chance it could last anywhere from an average of four to eight years.

3. The Cost

If your dentist recommends that you get a dental bonding procedure done, you may be wondering how much it will cost you.

Unfortunately, most insurance companies don't cover the procedure because they see it as something that is cosmetic. You can still call your insurance company to see if they cover anything that is cosmetic.

Call the insurance company or look over the package that they gave you when you first signed up for the insurance. You could also call the Dental Health Associates to see if they can help you as well.

If insurance won't cover any of it, you should be able to ask your dentist how much the procedure will cost.

4. The Risks

While there aren't many risks associated with this procedure, you should be on the lookout for a few things afterward.

If you notice any sharp edges around the tooth that was bonded, you should call your dentist. You should also call them if something feels wrong when you try and bite.

If the bonding starts to fall apart or chip away, you will also need to call your dentist.

The bonding that is used to repair your tooth is not as strong as the enamel of your real tooth. Doing something like biting on a pen or chewing your nails can be enough to break it.

5. The After Care

Because the bonding isn't as strong as your regular tooth, you will need to take special care and possibly even change a few of your habits.

For example, you will need to start cutting down on how much red wine, tea, and coffee you drink. If you keep drinking these, the stain on this part of the enamel will be even worse and harder to get rid of.

If you smoke, this will be a great reason to quit. The smoke can damage the bonding and also leave stains on it.

If biting your nails or chewing on objects like ice or pens is a bad habit of yours, you will need to figure out how to stop. Doing these could also easily damage and break the bonding, as we mentioned above.

Just because the bonding isn't part of your real teeth, you still need to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth. You also need to make sure that you are keeping up a good oral hygiene routine by regularly visiting your dentist for cleanings.

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If you have a chipped, cracked, or decaying tooth, you may benefit from having a tooth bonding done.

This is an easy and effective way to repair any damage done to your teeth.

If you're ready to fix your smile, request an appointment today.

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