B O N D I N G & C O M P O S I T E S
With advances in modern dentistry, there's no reason
you should be unhappy with the way your teeth look. Psychologists have
proved that a beautiful smile enhances your personal appearance and
improves your self-confidence. If you don't like your teeth, cosmetic
bonding may be for you!
Cosmetic bonding, often called resin bonding, is when a tooth colored resin is bonded to your teeth, then sculpted into the proper shape. The resin is a composite of liquid acrylic and tiny particles of glass. The composite resin forms a durable, stain-resistant surface that can be polished to mimic the texture of your natural teeth.
Bonding, When it is done?
In the past, if your tooth was chipped, stained, or cracked, or there is a gap between your front teeth (Diastema) you would probably receive a crown. Today, bonding is a quick and easy solution for many of these problems.
For example, by lightly filing a tooth on one side and building it up on the other, your dentist can eliminate the gap from a gap-toothed grin. By adding thickeners to vary the consistency, dentists can use the resin-like clay to restore chipped or broken teeth or as a putty to fill in cavities. In fact, worn or darkened "silver" fillings can be replaced with tooth-colored bonding materials that are indistinguishable from your natural tooth enamel. One type of resin is even used as a sealant to shield back teeth from decay.
Bonding is used to whiten stained teeth, to stabilize loose teeth, and to replace missing teeth. With resin bonding, you can change the color, the shape, and the position of your teeth, improving your smile.
While bonding is a wonderful technique, it will not solve all restorative dental problems. Where a large portion of the tooth surface is damaged, a veneer crown may be more advisable.
Procedure
Because the tooth surface is left intact, bonding isn't painful and doesn't harm the tooth. The procedure is normally completed without local anesthetic or tooth preparation. In most cases, bonding requires only one visit to the dentist. To bond a tooth, the surface of the tooth is etched with a mild acidic solution. This creates micropores (tiny crevices in the enamel), making the tooth more porous and receptive to the plastic bonding material. Next, the soft, pliable resin is spread over the tooth in layers. A bright beam of light locks the resins onto the tooth surface. Each layer hardens in minutes. After the last coat has been applied and hardened, the bonded material is shaped and polished. The resin comes in many shades. Your dentist will match the resin to the shade of your natural teeth.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
The acrylic materials used in bonding do not last as long as your typical crown. Bonds will eventually chip or become discolored. The bonded plastic coating can break off if you bite down on something hard or accidentally fall and bump your tooth. Bonds last an average of 1-5 years. Bonded teeth are also more susceptible to stains than your natural teeth. Smoking cigarettes, drinking tea or coffee, and even eating blueberries (jamun), beetroot, few toothpaste containing formaldehyde and mouthwashes containing chlorohexidine may cause some discoloration.
Diastema Closed By Bonding
Bonding can work wonders for discoloured teeth not changed by bleaching, to close spaces, or to appear to change tooth position.
| COSMETIC BONDING |
Cosmetic bonding, often called resin bonding, is when a tooth colored resin is bonded to your teeth, then sculpted into the proper shape. The resin is a composite of liquid acrylic and tiny particles of glass. The composite resin forms a durable, stain-resistant surface that can be polished to mimic the texture of your natural teeth.
Bonding, When it is done?
In the past, if your tooth was chipped, stained, or cracked, or there is a gap between your front teeth (Diastema) you would probably receive a crown. Today, bonding is a quick and easy solution for many of these problems.
For example, by lightly filing a tooth on one side and building it up on the other, your dentist can eliminate the gap from a gap-toothed grin. By adding thickeners to vary the consistency, dentists can use the resin-like clay to restore chipped or broken teeth or as a putty to fill in cavities. In fact, worn or darkened "silver" fillings can be replaced with tooth-colored bonding materials that are indistinguishable from your natural tooth enamel. One type of resin is even used as a sealant to shield back teeth from decay.
Bonding is used to whiten stained teeth, to stabilize loose teeth, and to replace missing teeth. With resin bonding, you can change the color, the shape, and the position of your teeth, improving your smile.
While bonding is a wonderful technique, it will not solve all restorative dental problems. Where a large portion of the tooth surface is damaged, a veneer crown may be more advisable.
Procedure
Because the tooth surface is left intact, bonding isn't painful and doesn't harm the tooth. The procedure is normally completed without local anesthetic or tooth preparation. In most cases, bonding requires only one visit to the dentist. To bond a tooth, the surface of the tooth is etched with a mild acidic solution. This creates micropores (tiny crevices in the enamel), making the tooth more porous and receptive to the plastic bonding material. Next, the soft, pliable resin is spread over the tooth in layers. A bright beam of light locks the resins onto the tooth surface. Each layer hardens in minutes. After the last coat has been applied and hardened, the bonded material is shaped and polished. The resin comes in many shades. Your dentist will match the resin to the shade of your natural teeth.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
The acrylic materials used in bonding do not last as long as your typical crown. Bonds will eventually chip or become discolored. The bonded plastic coating can break off if you bite down on something hard or accidentally fall and bump your tooth. Bonds last an average of 1-5 years. Bonded teeth are also more susceptible to stains than your natural teeth. Smoking cigarettes, drinking tea or coffee, and even eating blueberries (jamun), beetroot, few toothpaste containing formaldehyde and mouthwashes containing chlorohexidine may cause some discoloration.
Diastema Closed By Bonding
Bonding can work wonders for discoloured teeth not changed by bleaching, to close spaces, or to appear to change tooth position.
| COMPOSITES - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
- What is a composite resin (white filling)?
- A composite resin is a tooth-colored plastic mixture filled
with glass (silicon dioxide ) Composites are not only used for
restoring decay, but are also used for cosmetic improvements of the
smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured
teeth.Composites can be used for both the front and the back teeth.
- How composite is placed?
- Following preparation, the dentist places the composite in
layers, using a light specialized to harden each layer. When the process
is finished, the dentist will shape the composite to fit the tooth. The
dentist then polishes the composite to prevent staining and early wear.
- How long does it take to place a composite?
- It takes the dentist about 15 minutes longer to place a
composite than a silver filling. Placement time depends on the size and
location of the cavity. The larger the size, the longer it will take.
- What are the advantages of composites?
- Aesthetics is the main advantage, since dentists can blend
shades to create a colour nearly identical to that of the actual tooth.
Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure,
which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive
temperature changes.Bonding procedures are advantageous because one or
more teeth can be corrected during a single appointment and the positive
results are immediately apparent.
- What are the disadvantages?
- Composite resin restorations have their limitations. After receiving a composite, a patient may experience post-operative sensitivity. Also, the shade of the composite can change slightly if the patient drinks tea, coffee or other staining foods. The dentist can put a clear plastic coating over the composite to prevent the color from changing if a patient is particularly concerned about tooth color. Composites tend to wear out sooner than silver fillings in larger cavities, although they hold up as well in small cavities.They can chip or break over time if they are abused and bonded surfaces dull and discolor if not kept clean. Proper home care and regular professional cleanings are essential to keep the restored teeth healthy and beautiful.
