Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure that covers up minor cosmetic problems in the teeth to improve the appearance of a patient’s smile.
Dental bonding is the application of composite resin which is molded to and bonded to the teeth to repair minor tooth damage and to cover up issues like discoloration with a tooth-colored resin that hides imperfections that are negatively affecting your smile.
The procedure is minimally invasive, painless, and only takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth. We can transform your smile in a single appointment while keeping your natural tooth enamel intact. Dental bonding is commonly combined with tooth contouring to achieve the best results when patients are filing down jagged edges or changing the shape of their teeth.
This involves removing a small amount of tooth enamel before building up the tooth with composite resin. Contact us at Acacia Dental Care, LLC today to schedule a consultation.
Dental bonding can last for 10 years before needing to be touched up.
Dr. Brookes will perform an oral exam to assess the condition of your teeth and determine if you’re a good candidate for dental bonding.
To help the bonding agent stick, your tooth will be roughened and a conditioning liquid will be applied.
Composite resin is applied and manipulated to mold the resin to the desired shape.
By exposing the resin to UV light, the resin is cured and fully hardens.
After the resin is hardened, we can perform additional trimming to even the edges and make sure everything is uniform. Then, the tooth will be polished to match the sheen of your natural teeth.
If you have a particular tooth that is severely stained, we can shade-match the resin to your natural teeth and cover up the discoloration. If you have discoloration in all of your teeth, we can cover all of the visible teeth with bonding and select a lighter shade. Dental bonding will last for much longer than teeth whitening treatments.
If you want your teeth to be bigger, longer, or want to correct awkwardly shaped teeth, bonding and contouring can be used to change the size and shape of your teeth.
Small cracks in the teeth can be filled with dental bonding and eroded enamel can be replaced with the bonding material to restore the appearance and strength of your teeth.
Small gaps and misaligned teeth can be covered with dental bonding by widening or enlarging the teeth.
Gum disease is more common than you may expect, and if left untreated, patients struggling with it can risk developing additional problems, up to and including the loss of their teeth. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, and is the only stage that can be reversed with deep cleanings and good at-home hygiene. If you have gingivitis, staying on top of your regular cleanings, checkups, and at-home care will help you to regain control over your oral health before it becomes irreversible.
More advanced stages of periodontitis require more advanced and frequent treatment. We usually recommend scheduling deep cleaning sessions every three to four months, depending on your unique needs. Although the effects of more advanced periodontitis are irreversible, deep cleanings, scaling, and root planing can stop gum disease in its tracks and help preserve your oral wellbeing.
As a part of every preventive care visit, we’ll perform an oral cancer screening. Catching oral cancer early on gives us a better chance at stopping it before it spreads, and can even save your life.
During your exam, your dentist will examine your gums, tongue, and the rest of your mouth, looking for abnormalities like lesions, lumps, and discolorations. If we discover anything out of the ordinary, we’ll take a biopsy to send to a specialist for a comprehensive analysis. Although oral cancer is relatively rare, it’s important to be diligent about your oral hygiene routine, and to regularly visit our office for cleanings and checkups so we can identify any potential problems before they become major issues.
Bruxism, or unconscious teeth grinding and clenching is a common issue faced by many patients. As this behavior tends to happen at night while patients are asleep, night guards are a great solution for Bruxism. Night guards can be made from a variety of materials depending on the severity of your case, and work by creating a barrier between your teeth that protects them from damage caused by clenching and grinding.
If you need a night guard, your dentist will take impressions or digital scans of your teeth and gums to craft a custom mold that will then be sent to the lab, where your night guard will be made to your exact specifications and measurements. Night guards ease tension in your jaw in order to alleviate the painful headaches and other uncomfortable or damaging side effects of clenching and grinding, so you can get more restful sleep and keep your smile healthy.
Like night guards, sports mouth guards are worn over the teeth, but are designed specifically to protect your grin from oral trauma common in patients who play high-impact sports. A custom-fitted sports guard can help protect you from dental injuries caused by collisions to the mouth, face, or head. If you’re an athlete who plays football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, mountain biking, or other activities that put you at risk for injury due to falling, body contact, or flying objects, a sports guard is essential for protecting your smile. Tailored to fit your own unique grin, custom-fitted sports guards are comfortable, and durable, so you can keep playing the sports you love.
Dental bonding is a less invasive and reversible alternative to porcelain veneers.