Dental Bonding In Manhattan

What Is Dental Bonding? 

Dental bonding is a cosmetic treatment that involves bonding tooth-colored composite resin to the teeth to repair chips and cracks or cover up other cosmetic imperfections. Bonding can completely transform the appearance of your teeth and rebuild missing tooth structure. 

If you have teeth that are too sharp, too short, asymmetrical, or too small, our Manhattan dentist can bond your teeth to create the tooth shape and size you’ve always dreamed of. This procedure is effective at restoring the structure of minor tooth damage and covering up issues like:

• Tooth discoloration
• Gaps between the teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Oddly shaped or sized teeth
• Teeth that are too short or sharp
• Enamel erosion
• Cover an exposed tooth root

Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Bonding? 

A good candidate for dental bonding at our NYC office should be in good oral health, free of tooth decay and gum disease. They should also not have severe structural damage because tooth bonding can only correct minor aesthetic problems. 

Minor gaps, discoloration, slightly crooked teeth, and small chips or cracks can be corrected. Bonding is not suitable to correct severe orthodontic problems, dental trauma, broken teeth, or large gaps. Other restorative or orthodontic procedures would be more suitable. 

We also do not recommend dental bonding for teeth in the back of the mouth such as the molars. Composite resin is not a significantly durable material for teeth that withstand a lot of force from chewing, especially if you grind your teeth at night. 

This can lead to a shortened lifespan of the bonding or result in severe damage to the bonding material. Dental bonding from our Manhattan practice is usually used in the front teeth to correct cosmetic problems that show when you smile.

What To Expect During The Bonding Process

The process begins with a consultation with Dr. Chavez. He will assess the condition of your teeth to ensure you’re in good oral health and that you don’t have any severe damage that would make you a poor candidate for bonding. 

A shade guide will be used to match the shade of your teeth to the composite resin that will be used for your bonding. There is minimal preparation needed for dental bonding because an anesthetic is typically not needed. It is a painless, minimally invasive procedure without any drilling or needles. 

However, we will need to roughen the front-facing side of your teeth that are receiving the bonding before we apply a conditioning liquid. These steps help encourage the adhesive to stick to the tooth. Then, we will shape and mold the composite resin to your tooth and then cure it with UV light. 

This instantly hardens the resin to your tooth and then we can perform additional shaping and contouring if necessary. Your teeth will then be polished. This procedure takes about 30 minutes to an hour per tooth at our NYC office.

How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?

On average, dental bonding lasts for about 3-10 years depending on the person’s lifestyle, oral hygiene, and the condition of their teeth. Bonding is a temporary treatment that will need to be replaced over time. 

If you expose your bonded teeth to a lot of wear and tear and staining, you will need to have them replaced much sooner. To extend the lifespan of your bonding, avoid eating hard, crunchy, and sticky foods. If you grind your teeth, you will need to wear a nightguard. 

Avoid staining foods and drinks and tobacco products. Don’t chew on your fingernails or use your teeth to open things. Practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day. 

Don’t neglect to floss your teeth once a day and attend regular dental cleanings every 6 months. If you’re interested in dental bonding in Manhattan, contact us at Blue Line Dental today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steven Chavez.