Dental Bonding Pros and Cons: All You Need to Know

What Is Dental Bonding?

It is a procedure in dentistry that involves using composite resin to repair and restore teeth structures. Dental bonding near you is niched for cosmetic modification in dentistry to improve the overall appearance of teeth.

The composite resin for dental bonding in Oak Lawn, IL, is a tooth-colored, putty-like substance that hardens when exposed to UV light. Therefore, to modify the appearance of your teeth, a dentist near you only needs to mold and shape the composite resin on the affected tooth, then harden it accordingly.

When Is Dental Bonding Necessary?

Any patients interested in cosmetic dental procedures to improve the aesthetics of their smile at Forrest Tower DDS can benefit from dental bonding. The number of ways that dental bonding can benefit your smile transformation are:

• Teeth whitening – whitening and brightening the color of your teeth does not always have to involve teeth bleaching treatment protocols. Since the composite resin for dental bonding is tooth-colored, your dentists at Forrest Tower DDS may recommend it for brightening the color of your teeth. You can pick a whiter shade than the initial color of your teeth to achieve your desired dental goals.
• Teeth contouring – is a process of reshaping teeth for a perfect dentition. Technically, there is a standard shape for every set of teeth in a human mouth so that incisors and canines do not look the same when you smile. Over time, the shapes of your teeth can get distorted, whether due to excessive teeth grinding, wearing out, or other defects. Dental bonding can help reshape your teeth for a perfect appearance. Some cases that need teeth reshaping are unusually short teeth pointy, and rounded-off teeth.
• Teeth alignment – dental bonding for teeth alignment is nothing like the processes in orthodontics for aligning your jaw and teeth. Instead of braces and bands, dental bonding can close up the small spaces between your teeth to promote evenness.
• Teeth filling – composite resins can fill teeth after dental cavities and tooth decay. In this case, dental bonding acts as an alternative dental filling approach instead of metal-based or porcelain tooth fillings.

Is Dental Bonding Worth It?

If you are hesitant about trying out dental bonding to improve the appearance of your smile, consider the pros and cons thereof. If any of the benefits of dental bonding appeal to you, you can try it. If not, you can always prefer other options in dentistry.

1. Pros of Dental Bonding 

• Natural-looking results – the composite resin is tooth-colored, allowing you to choose a shade of white that closest matches the color of your natural teeth.
• Painless and non-invasive procedure – other than surgery, there are other levels of invasiveness probable with other dental procedures, including enamel trimming. Dental bonding does not require invasive dental protocols to adhere to your teeth. As such, you do not need any numbing or sedation to prepare you for your treatment.
• Quick fix – dental bonding procedures require very little of your time regarding downtime and in-office hours. Usually, it takes under 45 minutes to complete your treatment, depending on the number of teeth that need treatment. Afterward, you do not need time to relax, nurse pain, or wait for the numbing to wear off. As soon as you leave the dental office, you can resume your daily life routines and activities hassle-free.
• Versatility – dentists can use composite resin in various ways to repair and restore teeth structures and improve the appearance of your smile.
• Ease of removal – after dental bonding, you still reserve the chance to change your mind about the appearance of your teeth. Should you need to redo your teeth or remove the bonding material, it is possible to achieve without necessarily damaging your tooth structure. This cannot be said of other dental appliances like dental crowns or veneers. Once you get them, there is no going back. In that sense, dental bonding works as a safe choice for patients looking for temporary solutions to their dental flaws.

2. Cons of Dental Bonding 

• Not as sturdy as porcelain – composite bonding is more fragile than porcelain, which is often the alternative material for cosmetic and restorative procedures in dentistry.
• Short-lived results – compared to other oral restorations in dentistry, composite bonding does not last a long time. If you take care of your teeth properly, they should serve you for about 5-8 years. The case is different from other materials that last between 10-25 years.