Got an unsightly small gap between front teeth? A fractured tooth corner wearing away faster than a “sharpened” pencil? Or discolored stumpy incisors never keeping pace with whitening of surrounding smile-line teeth? Cosmetic dentists now fix all these issues faster and far more affordably than ever before using “composite bonding” materials. But how does it work and what results can realistically be expected from direct bonded restorations?
Understanding Dental Composite Bonding
Unlike old silver amalgam fillings or metal dental inlays requiring reshaping healthy areas to anchor them, bonded composites mechanically adhere directly to each tooth’s unique anatomy only where needed. They restore eroded regions seamlessly without drilling into structurally-sound zones or relying on retentive undercuts.
The process starts by etching the targeted enamel surface then applying silane and bonding liquid to facilitate composite material integration. After isolating the area from saliva for a few minutes, your dentist meticulously layers an acrylic-based composite resin matching adjacent tooth shades, slowly building it up and sculpting as if working with putty. High-intensity curing lights rapidly harden each layer. Special polishing follow-up perfects composite contours and glossiness for imperceptible blending with surrounding enamel.
Cosmetic and Structural Applications
As bonding technology and specialized composite formulations advance, material strength now durably repairs fractured cusps, decayed tooth corners vulnerable to continued breakdown, abnormal wear patterns causing uneven bite collapse, and small-to-moderate anterior cavities once requiring traditional amalgam or cement fillings. Its versatility also excels restoring eroded vertical height from decades of overzealous teeth grinding and clenching.
For cosmetic changes, dentists layer warmed bonding resin over slightly rotated or tipped teeth, effectively “repositioning” them straighter within the line of your smile. They also quickly mask intrinsic stains or yellowed, calcified fluorotic patches on front teeth using opaque bonding agents to generously add width, length, and block out dark underlying discoloration in a single non-invasive visit.
Pros and Cons
Composite bonding offers a huge advantage over porcelain or zirconia dental veneers in preservation of healthy enamel because it bonds minimally invasively to existing anatomy without aggressively abrading away outer layers. In thinner applications like concealing gaps or slight chips at biting edges, bonding also costs much less, with fees starting around £150-200 per tooth versus £500+ for a typical custom fabricated veneer.
However, bonding doesn’t yield the flawless ultra-white, highly polished and naturally light-refractive appearance of porcelain restorations. Overtime it absorbs slight stains, wears faster than enamel necessitating repolishing every few years, and occasionally cracks loose from the underlying tooth if bonding wasn’t adequately moisture-controlled initially. Still, modern composites provide excellent, affordable and low-hassle options for men and women of all ages seeking fast minor dental repairs.
Longevity Compared to Alternatives
When directly compared to porcelain veneers lasting 10-15 years or more and full coverage gold/porcelain crowns lasting 30+ years with proper care, composite bondings offer more intermediary service. Expect most bonded restorations to last 5-7 years before requiring replacement, longer if no heavy grinding/clenching habits exist. Still an advantage over shorter 18-24 month life expectancy seen in class IV composite fillings for posterior chewing surfaces.
Limitations in Scope
While medical composites continue advancing, keep realistic expectations on Magnitude of correction possible in a single treatment without adjunctive orthodontia or prosthodontics. Generally limit bonding rehabilitation plans to minor tooth Alignment changes up to 3 millimeters and superficial stain-masking. Significant intrinsic discoloration, tetracycline staining, or prior root canals with colour change cannot be fully blocked out by direct composite restorations which rarely achieve more than 2 mm depth due to polymerization shrinkage and risk of bond failure during chewing if overly bulked.
Reduced Chair Time and Dental Anxiety
Another advantage of direct composite bonding deals includes quicker placement with fewer anesthesia requirements compared to preparing teeth for indirect lab fabricated restorations. Bonding usually requires no trimming of healthy surrounding tooth structure, limiting sensitivity and temperature changes. The entire process from preparation to curing and polishing finishes in about 30-60 minutes, much faster than taking mold impressions and awaiting delivery of custom veneers cemented at followup visits. Patients uncomfortable wearing temporaries or who gag easily tolerate the condensed single appointment nature better. Comfort, quality, and affordability – composite bonding offers the convenient trifecta for minor anterior teeth improvements.
Ideal Candidates
Those with localized slightly crooked teeth or uneven incisor edges benefit most from direct composite repairs rather than pursuing full orthodontic treatment or veneers. Bonding works best for adolescents and younger adults still completing jaw growth with minor irregularities emerging. It also suits older adults with worn enamel and age-darkened anteriors unwilling to undergo dramatic smile makeovers.
Improvements in Color Matching
While early composite resins came in limited opaque white shades, modern bonding offers customizable tints and translucency levels mimicking lifelike dental anatomy much more affordably than custom zirconia or lithium disilicate glass ceramics. Dentists place dentin shades first, then add translucent incisal layers carrying more opacity and brightness replicating light refractive properties of natural tooth edges. Special effects resin composites also produce popular glittered sparkling smiles when polished.
Reduced Health Risks
Since bonding is additive requiring very little drill cutting of existing anatomy compared to crown preps removing up to 95% healthy structure, less bacterial ingress risks propagate after treatment. Without underlying dentin and dental pulp exposure, sensitivity and future root canal needs diminish. Conservatively retaining natural structure always remains ideal when feasible.
Trending Creative Applications
Artistic patients now enlist dental bonding services to intentionally build special shapes on canine teeth mimicking vampire fangs or blunt square designs on central incisors complimenting specific piercings or tattoo styles. When applied judiciously in thin incrementally cured layers totaling under 2 millimeters thickness, direct composite bonding offers versatile creative potential beyond merely correcting unappealing dental flaws.
Current Promotions for UK Residents from Leading Clinic:
Thousand Smiles Dentists in London currently offers composite bonding services in the UK starting at just £99 per tooth. Receive £50 off initial bonding treatment of 3 or more teeth booked by March 31, 2023. Free consultation xrays also provided.
Please let me know if you would like any additional information on composite bonding costs, applications, or composite bonding deals in the UK covered within this overview draft!
