Bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure which enables the restoration of chipped, spotted, discolored or gapped teeth in a single visit. We use modern materials that match the shade, translucency, and texture of your teeth. Our goal is to have the end result appear as if no treatment was performed. This can do wonders for your self-confidence, since smiling will come naturally to you with the improved appearance of your teeth. The results are very natural in appearance. But bonding does take more maintenance than porcelain veneers and may not last as long. Less tooth structure needs to be removed, which makes bonding a more conservative choice for some cases.
Bonding is the material of choice when it comes to small defects in your teeth. When the defect or end result requires covering the entire front of the tooth, a veneer or crown will probably provide superior aesthetic results.
Case #1 – Peg Lateral
This tooth has a developmental defect, which is called a peg lateral. This only occurs in the lateral teeth, one tooth away from the centerline of the mouth on each side.There is nothing wrong with the tooth but the patient wanted to have it treated for cosmetic reasons. The treatment consisted of shaping the tooth with a composite material to make it look more natural. This procedure took one appointment and was done without any anesthetic. Periodic polishing will help maintain the shine and luster of this restoration for many years.
Case #2 – Tooth-Colored Filling
This is an old tooth-colored filling that has been in place for many years and needs to be replaced because of discoloration as well as wear. The wear may allow bacteria to enter and cause decay if the filling is not replaced. The filling has been replaced with a newer tooth-colored filling that should last for many years. This restoration was completed in one office visit.
Case #3 – Periodontal Defect
This patient was unhappy with the space between two of her teeth. This was the result of a periodontal (gum) defect between the teeth. Composite, which is a tooth-colored material, was bonded to both of the teeth. This procedure took one office visit. The result was a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and it gave the patient confidence to smile again.
Case #4
This patient had severely chipped teeth and wanted them fixed as soon as possible. The options were porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, or composite veneers. One of the advantages of bonding is that it can usually be completed in one visit. The patient chose to go with the composite veneers, which are hand sculpted and bonded in place, because they were the least expensive treatment option. They do have the shortest life expectancy and need periodic polishing, but if they properly cared for, they can last for many years.
Case #5
This patient was unhappy with two issues: the space between her upper front teeth and the different heights of the gum tissue above her teeth, which made the teeth appear to be of different lengths. Step one of her treatment was to even out the height of the gum tissue. After healing, which took several weeks, the space, which dentists call a diastema, was closed using composites bonded to her teeth. The total number of treatments was two; one for the gum tissue and one for the bonding and the result was exactly what the patient had in mind.
Case #6
The lateral, or side tooth, had an old tooth-colored filling that was showing its age. Older composites were much more porous than the newer composites and, therefore, they show more discoloration over time. In one office visit, the old filling was removed and replaced with new composite bonding material. The result is a much more natural appearance.
Case #7
This patient did not like the natural gap between his two front teeth. Composite bonding was placed in one office visit. Bonding takes periodic touch-ups to keep it looking like new.
Case #8
The dark areas on the teeth are indicative of severe decay caused by neglect. All of the decay must be removed before any restoration of the teeth can begin. After all the decay was removed, the teeth were restored with composite bonding in one appointment. The ideal treatment plan would have been to place porcelain crowns, but it was not an option due to the patient’s finances. The patient was very happy with the results.
Case #9
This patient was not happy with the color of her teeth. She also disliked the worn edges of her top teeth, related to her teeth-grinding habits. First, the patient’s teeth were lightened with an at-home whitening process. When she was satisfied with the color, composite bonding was added to the edges to restore the natural tooth structure that was lost due to grinding.
Case #10
There are several issues with this patient’s teeth. He is a heavy grinder, which causes the edges of the teeth to chip away and the wear patterns in the lower image. The yellowish area is the second layer of tooth structure, which is the dentin. The dentin is much softer than the outer layer of tooth (enamel). If you look closely at the top image, you will also see that the teeth are starting to wear away at the gum line, which may be caused by grinding or by brushing too hard. The treatment consisted of composite bonding at the gum line, at the edges of the teeth, and on the inside, as well as making a nightguard to protect the composite and the tooth structure. The results were very good when compared to the before images. The patient did not want the space closed.
