How Long Does Composite Bonding Last?

Some say a smile is the most memorable facial feature; it speaks a thousand words, so they say! Whether this is true or not, all we know is that your smile will affect your overall well-being. That’s why issues such as stains, fractures, cracks, and even spaces between teeth can deter you from living your life to the fullest. For this reason, our dentist offers dental bonding, a dental service under cosmetic dentistry in Sacramento.

Dental bonding is a creative way of dealing with minor cosmetic dental flaws. It is also a painless and non-invasive way to restore your smile to its former glory. Read on if you wish to know more about the dental bonding process, including how long the procedure lasts!

It’s All About Covering Flaws

A smile always leaves a lasting impression, so you should always rectify those dental flaws, as minor as they may be.

When it comes to cosmetic concerns, cracked, chipped, or severely stained teeth will deter you from smiling freely. Interacting with your friends and colleagues will be a nightmare. What’s worse is if your career depends on you interacting with people more often.

On the other hand, these dental flaws may also affect your oral health. Your teeth will get weak if you have cracks and chips. If you don’t visit our dentist in Sacramento, CA, to get the damages fixed, your tooth roots can be exposed, leaving you vulnerable to dental infections. Or even worse, the tooth can break off.

This is the point where our composite bonding comes in handy. All the issues mentioned above will be a thing of the past. Composite bonding involves using a tooth-colored material known as composite resin to repair cracked or chipped teeth. At times our dentist can use it to reduce the spaces between your teeth.

Composite resin (plastic) has been the ideal material for dental bonding since it is pliable; therefore, our dentist can shape, trim, and polish it to give it a perfect finish. Once the procedure is done, your bonded teeth will resemble the rest of your teeth.

Veneers and bonding are similar procedures since they both focus on covering dental flaws. However, dental veneers are made from porcelain, and dental bonding uses composite resin.

Bonding is used in two ways:

• Direct dental bonding  – where the composite resin is used to correct the dental flaws
• Adhesive bonding – is when composite bonding is used as a special adhesive to attach crowns, bridges, or veneers to the teeth

Are You the Right Candidate for Composite Bonding?

Almost anyone who wishes to revamp their smile can benefit from dental bonding. However, our dentist near you recommends composite bonding if:

• You want to elongate your teeth
• You wish to enhance the appearance of severely stained teeth
• You desire to close the spaces between your teeth
• You have cavities and aim to cover them using composite
• You want to cover tooth roots that have been exposed due to gum recession
• You desire to repair cracked or chipped teeth
• You want to reshape your teeth

How Is Bonding Done?

Isn’t it amazing to know that you can alter the appearance of your teeth in minutes? Well, this is what composite bonding will do for you. The procedure is pretty straightforward, and here are the steps involved:

• Preparation

  The wonderful thing about composite bonding is that you don’t have to prepare beforehand. You can schedule your appointment during your lunch break, and you will return to the office with a brand-new smile.

  Moreover, there’s no need for anesthesia since the procedure is minimally invasive. Anesthesia is only an option if composite bonding covers a chip close to the nerve or if your tooth needs shaping.

• Bonding

  Our dentist near you will roughen your tooth’s surface so that the composite will adhere properly. Our dentist uses a conditioning liquid to aid in the bonding process. The next step will be to use a shade guide to find the color that closely matches your teeth.

  Once our dentist lands the right color, they will apply the composite resin to your teeth. Then it will be molded, smoothed, and exposed to bright light to harden the resin. When the resin is set, our dentist will perform the finishing touches by trimming, shaping, and polishing to match the sheen of your teeth.

How Long Does Bonding Last?

Unfortunately, composite bonding is not designed to last forever. At some point, you will have to come to our office for touch-ups. This is because composite resin is not a very sturdy material. But it can last longer if you care for your teeth daily and follow the proper guidelines. If you do so, don’t be shocked if they last up to 10 years.

Either way, you can expect it to last between 3 and 10 years.

Do you still have questions about composite bonding? If you do, contact us at Jeff L. DiMariano, DDS, and we would love to help you.