Tips for Choosing Bonding Materials

If you have small imperfections in your teeth, then you may want to speak with a cosmetic dentist to have chips and other issues repaired. The dental professional may suggest the use of a bonding material to make the repair. Bonding does have some advantages, like the low cost of the procedure, but you should know that there are also some disadvantages. Keep reading to learn about a few so you are able to make an informed choice when it comes to bonding.

Preventing Stains

Dental bonding materials are very similar to the compounds used to create tooth fillings. A resin composite is used, and the material is more closely related to plastic than something like porcelain. If you have ever seen one of your dental fillings become a yellow tone over time, then you can understand how the bonding material can do this as well. Tooth whitening will not remove the staining and this means that the resin will likely need to be completely replaced once stains start to set in. 

While the bonding may become a bit yellow, there are a few things you can do to prevent this sort of discoloration. Allowing the bonding to completely cure for several days is something you should do. Also, think about cutting back on coffee, tea, cigarettes, and other things that can contribute to dental staining. When you consume a staining food or drink, make sure to rinse your mouth with water or chew on some gum to help keep staining particles from seeping into the resin.

Preventing Chips

You may know that veneers and crowns tend to last a long time. This is due to their porcelain construction since porcelain is harder and stronger, like the tooth enamel. Resin is not as strong and may chip and wear due to simple and normal use. For example, biting into a hard candy can chip the bonding and require a repair by your dental professional. 

The good news is that you can try the bonding procedure and if it does not work, you can then go ahead and choose to have veneers placed. You can also have the bonding replaced multiple times with little to no negative effects involving the teeth. This may be ideal for the side and back teeth. And, if you want the most aesthetically pleasing look, then you can opt for the placement of veneers on the front teeth and have bonding secured on the other teeth. This can help to keep your costs down since you are using a combination of veneers and bonding treatments. 

To learn more about these services, contact a cosmetic dentist.


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