In this blog, our Whitehorse dentists explain the dental bonding process, the costs of this treatment, and how long the effects could last.
Dental Bonding
In the process of dental bonding, the dentist performing your procedure will apply a tooth-coloured composite resin to the surfaces of your teeth. This should effectively repair fractures, decay, chips, or discolouration.
This material should help fill any gaps left by a cavity, as well as improve the appearance of your teeth, it might even make your teeth appear a bit longer. However, the look of your teeth before and after dental bonding might change significantly.
The Duration of the Dental Bonding Effects
The dental bonding effects usually lasts approximately 4 to 8 years, maybe even longer depending on the following factors:
- How well you care for your teeth (by maintaining an excellent oral hygiene routine that consists of brushing and flossing daily)
- The areas of your mouth that are bonded
- Your dietary choices
- Whether you attend your regularly scheduled dental appointments (twice a year)
How long your dental bonding lasts typically depends on how well you care for your teeth. You should avoid acidic or sugary foods because they can cause wear on your teeth. If you enjoy fruit, brush and floss your teeth immediately after so plaque or bacteria doesn't have the opportunity to grow.
Also avoid chewing ice, hard candy, grinding your teeth, or biting down too hard, all of which can chip the bonding material.
And of course, it's most important to maintain a consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine. The healthier the natural area around the bonding material remains, the longer the restoration will last.
The Benefits of Dental Bonding
If you decide to use dental bonding to improve the appearance of your smile, you could experience the following benefits:
Changes appearance of teeth: Dental bonding can help adjust the colour and shape of your teeth for a symmetrical, cohesive look.
Non-invasive: As far as cosmetic treatments go, dental bonding is relatively non-invasive and you won't require any recovery time.
Quick treatment: A dental professional can usually perform the procedure in just one visit.
Cost-effective: Dental bonding is generally considered to be a cost-effective alternative to more extensive cosmetic dental procedures such as crowns, bridges and veneers.
Long-lasting: As long as you care for your smile properly, you can expect the effects of dental bonding to last for 4 to 8 years, or longer in some cases.
The Cost of Dental Bonding
Patients that look for dental bonding procedures are often concerned about cost. Your specific cost will depend on several elements:
- Scope of work, location, and size of the areas of the mouth being bonded
- The number of teeth being repaired
- Your location – costs may change depending on which city and dental practice performs the procedure
- How much of the procedure is covered by insurance (this may depend on whether your issue is primarily structural or cosmetic)