Dental Bonding on Long Island NY

Cosmetic dental issues are usually why a dentist will recommend dental bonding. Because of this, it can be beneficial for things like fractured teeth, teeth that are chipped or otherwise damaged and discolored teeth.

Your dentist might suggest bonding to help with changing your tooth color and shape, as well as to reduce gap size in between your teeth. It is also possible to use this treatment to protect tooth roots that are exposed due to gum disease causing your gums to recede.

Dental bonding is a suitable option for minor cosmetic dentistry such as the following:

• Changing the shape of teeth
• Closing spaces between teeth
• Restoring the appearance of discolored teeth
• Repairing chipped or cracked teeth
• Protecting an exposed root due to receding gums
• Filling cavities – as a more aesthetically appealing alternative to amalgam (silver) fillings

And since this procedure allows you to undergo the treatment a couple of times in a lifetime, you will be able to restore your lost self-esteem and smile with confidence.

However, proper care will make the composite material last longer in your teeth, saving money and the agony of hiding teeth imperfections.

Note that more serious teeth problems require a different form of treatment. So, it’s best to consult with your dentist before considering any treatment. 

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Dental bonding treatment is much more affordable than other cosmetic dental procedures like porcelain veneers. You will not have to dig deeper to get the desired smile. If the treatment is due to decay or chips or dentures, insurance cover will help foot the bills. On average, you can expect to pay $300 to $600 for this procedure.

If you are looking for a cosmetic dental procedure, this treatment is one of the least expensive ones that you can pursue. In general, you can expect the results of dental bonding to last for about 10 years. However, things like your overall dental health and which teeth were treated affect the longevity.

2. Easy To Maintain

Compared to your molars, the front teeth do not experience as much wear-and-tear when you are chewing. As a result, the results of dental bonding tend to last longer on your front teeth. The tooth requires brushing and flossing to keep it in shape.

However, things like chewing on hard objects and grinding your teeth can make your results last for a shorter period of time. You should also avoid hard foods like jawbreakers. 

3. It’s a One-Day Procedure

Compared to other types of cosmetic dental treatments, dental bonding is quite fast (it takes about 30-60 minutes to complete the procedure on one tooth), and you do not have to deal with anesthesia. The one exception to the anesthesia rule is if your dentist is using bonding to fill a decayed tooth after drilling it. Also, your dentist will not need to take away any of your tooth enamel, so the preparation takes almost no time at all.

Additionally, the procedure will not prevent the patient from eating regular foods as it restores the function of the tooth immediately. The chances of acquiring tooth infection also reduce because of the fast treatment. 

It’s a Non-Invasive Treatment

Another advantage of this procedure is that it is painless. This means there is no need for anesthesia administration which is unlike when going for veneers or crowns. Repairing teeth with veneer require removing some portions of tooth enamel before installation, which inflicts pain. This is not the case with bonding treatment. 

4. Looks Natural

Since composite resins are designed to blend with natural teeth. Thanks to their natural look, it’s not easy to tell if a person has repaired a tooth with bonding. The dentist also applies the composite material on the affected area only instead of the whole teeth creating a uniform natural look. 

5. It’s Versatile

Dental bonding helps hide various cosmetic imperfections like chips and cracks. If you have discolored teeth or unwanted gaps, this procedure will help correct everything. 

Other benefits include the fact that dental bonding is simple, and it’s almost always successful.

Even though cosmetic dentistry has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages you should consider before settling for the procedure. The cons of this procedure include: 

Tooth Bonding Is Not Durable

Unlike a veneer or a crown, tooth bonding doesn’t last long enough. Dental bonding doesn’t last long because the composite resin is more fragile than the other materials used in the rest of prosthetics. This means after some time, you may have to repeat the whole procedure to maintain the desired smile. 

Compared to veneers and crowns, you will typically get a shorter lifespan with bonding materials. This is because they can get grinded down when you are sleeping, experience damage and detach from the tooth the resin is adhered to as your mouth starts to change. Due to these factors, dentists usually recommend this treatment when the issue that needs to be fixed is small.

If you do experience the resin coming out or breaking, it is easy to repair or replace the bonding resin. When it comes to the bonding material, damage can occur due to biting. Because of this, dental bonding is generally recommended for your front teeth and other teeth where there is not as much pressure.

Susceptible to Stains

Another disadvantage of tooth bonding is that it’s prone to have stains. This is despite dental bonding material being stain resistant. 

Now, some people view this as a benefit since the resin will change with color and develop stains as you get older just like your natural teeth do. This prevents the bonding resin from standing out over time. On the other hand, veneers and crowns can start to look artificial with time since they will not change color and stain like your natural teeth.

It’s Prone to Chip

The bonding material will also chip after some time. When the material chips, it will affect the overall look of your dental formula. However, you can prevent the material from chipping by avoiding habits like chewing pens, eating hard foods, fingernails, or ice. 

Tooth bonding has no known major risks. The composite material used is safe for use despite it not being as strong as natural teeth.

It’s a perfect alternative to an amalgam filling with mercury that harms the human body. But it’s advisable to ask your dentist how safe the dental filling used for this procedure is. 

When it comes to your appointment for teeth bonding, there is nothing you need to do to prepare. Just make sure to show up at the time of your appointment. Our staff will get you in the chair and do the few quick things that are needed to get you ready to see the dentist. As you learned above, the need for anesthesia is rare.

Your dentist will start with a dental examination and then will make sure that the resin that they choose matches your teeth. Once this is done, they will slightly roughen the tooth surface and then put the conditioning liquid on. This will ensure that the tooth and the resin have a strong bond together.

The resin feels and acts like a putty, so it is easy for your dentist to smooth and mold it until it gets to the exact shape needed. Once it is shaped, the dentist will harden the resin using an LED light. Overall, you can expect to be with your dentist for about 30 minutes for every tooth being treated.

Bonding is a relatively short and painless procedure which can sometimes be completed in as little as 30 minutes. The procedure is performed in the following steps:

• Using a shade guide, the dentist chooses a resin color that closely matches your teeth. Next, the dentist will roughen and etch the surface of your teeth, a process which is necessary to effectively bond the resin. A conditioning liquid such as phosphoric acid is applied to the tooth, which also helps with bonding the resin.
• A putty-like resin is now applied to the tooth. The resin is now molded until the desired shape is achieved. The next step involves shining an ultraviolet light to your tooth, which causes the resin to harden. This special light is what will make the resin bond with your teeth.
• After the bonding material hardens, your dentist will perfect the tooth by doing some further trimming and shaping. Finally, the dentist will proceed to polish the bonded material so that it shines like the rest of your teeth.

It is important to continue seeing your dentist twice a year and follow your normal dental hygiene routine. This helps to keep all of your teeth healthy, as well as those with dental bonding.

If you have any habits that could break or damage your teeth, it is important to work on breaking these habits. For example, get help for teeth grinding, do not chew on foreign objects and do not chew on your fingernails.

It is also important to reduce your intake of drinks and foods that can stain your bonding resin. Examples include coffee, red wine and blueberries. If you use tobacco products, quitting can reduce the risk of staining prematurely.

If you think that your bonded tooth is starting to sharpen, change in shape or otherwise change, make sure to talk to your dentist right away. They will let you know if you need to replace or repair it.

You can expect to have your bonding for about 10 years as long as you take care of your teeth well. As you get older, your mouth and teeth can change, and this could reduce the lifespan by weakening the resin and negatively affecting the bond.

Make sure that the dentist that you choose has experience with dental bonding. The higher the skill of the dentist, the better your results. This can also help to increase the overall longevity of your dental bonding.

The material used for dental bonding is more likely to be damaged as compared to other forms of cosmetic dentistry. It is, therefore, necessary to take special care in order to keep the bonding intact and natural looking especially now that you know how much is dental bonding. Below are some things that you can do to ensure the longevity of your dental bonding.

• Take special care in the 48 hours following your procedure. This is necessary in order to prevent the bonded material from staining.
• It is important that you avoid eating or drinking foods that can stain, such as coffee, tea, and foods with dyes.
• Cigarette smoke is another big culprit that can cause staining; therefore, it is advised that you refrain from smoking for at least 48 hours after your procedure.
• Continue to brush your teeth regularly, and keep up with your dental visits to have your teeth cleaned regularly and effectively by a dental hygienist.