If you’re insecure about your smile because of gapped, chipped, or cracked teeth or similar issues, ask your dentist about teeth bonding and similar solutions on your next visit. Dental bonding is an aesthetic procedure that can quickly improve the photo-readiness of your smile.
However, this is not a replacement for orthodontic treatments, which are needed to correct the underlying dental problems that cause the issues and prevent them from worsening. Keep reading to learn about teeth bonding, including how it differs from veneers, how much it costs, and how to care for bonded teeth.
What is teeth bonding?
Alt text: Illustration of smiles with decayed teeth, chipped teeth, and tooth gaps then showing a perfect smile after direct bonding treatment
Image link: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/cosmetic-dentistry-treatment-direct-bonding-decayed-2403080437
Image caption: Teeth bonding can repair the appearance of a smile affected by decay, chipping, or gaps.
Dental or teeth bonding makes small, cosmetic repairs to your teeth. During this procedure, also called bonded restoration, your dentist will glue a material called composite resin to the problematic tooth, shape the resin for a natural look, then harden it with ultraviolet light.
The composite resin would be colour-matched to your teeth so the fix appears more natural. Dentists shape the resin to fill gaps, chips, or broken teeth. If you have a persistent tooth stain, the composite resin can be painted over it to cover it up.
As each tooth takes around 30 to 60 minutes to complete, you can have multiple teeth bonded in a single visit to the dentist. So you’ll get to appreciate the teeth bonding before-and-after effects immediately.
Teeth bonding can treat:
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Teeth stains or discolourations
- Tooth gaps
- Mismatched or oddly shaped teeth
Teeth bonding vs veneers
If you’re debating between teeth bonding vs veneers, as these procedures address many of the same issues, you should first understand the difference between them.
While dental bonding involves the application of composite resin shaped to compensate for tooth damage, veneers or laminates are custom-made shells applied to the front of your teeth to conceal imperfections.
Veneers can be made of composite resin, but are also commonly made from porcelain or other materials. Porcelain veneers are more durable than composite resin, but they can be twice or thrice the price of teeth bonding.
Teeth bonding risks
Dental bonding doesn’t come with many risks as long as you aren’t allergic to any of the materials or tools used during the procedure. However, teeth bonding isn’t as durable a solution as veneers, crowns, or fillings and is more prone to damage.
Staining and damage
Composite resin isn’t as strong as your actual teeth, so you run a greater risk of teeth cracking or breaking. For this reason, dental bonding isn’t recommended for teeth grinders.
The resin can also stain more quickly than natural teeth. If you’ve had teeth bonding done, you may need to say goodbye to hard foods like nuts and hard candy, acidic foods and drinks like citrus juices, and foods and drinks that can lead to staining like red wine, coffee, tea, and berries.
According to a study in Biomedicines on optimising dental bond strength, the specific resin used, pH levels, and your dental health practitioner’s dedication in keeping contaminants like blood and saliva away are some factors that can affect the strength of your teeth bonding. So, it’s best to visit a dentist you trust for your treatment.
Orthodontic and dental treatment may still be needed
Teeth bonding is a purely aesthetic correction of teeth issues. The Dental Board of Australia (DBA) advises practitioners and patients to understand the difference between cosmetic purposes and clinical need before undergoing procedures.
“Practitioners must ensure patients are provided adequate time to properly consider the impact of cosmetic procedures, that realistic expectations are set, and that informed consent, including financial consent, is gained,” cautions DBA chair Dr. Murray Thomas.
If you have problems with your bite, crooked teeth, and more, you may still need teeth alignment solutions. These will not only help correct the issue, but also prevent it from worsening. For example, dental bonding may cover up gapped teeth, but these gaps may only continue to widen without intervention from an orthodontist or dentist.
On your next visit, consult your dentist about dental and orthodontic treatments to give your smile a makeover. It’s a good idea to tell them about your lifestyle, concerns, and budget so they can suggest the least disruptive options.
For teeth and bite alignment, one discreet option to consider is ClearCorrect invisible aligners. These use a trademarked tri-layer material called ClearQuartz that’s durable and comfortable. And because the aligners are removable for eating and maintenance, they have minimal impact on your lifestyle. You can take an online smile assessment to find out if you’d be a good candidate for invisible aligners.
How much does teeth bonding cost?
While not as expensive as veneers, which can cost thousands of dollars per tooth, teeth bonding costs can still set you back a bit, ranging between AUD$175 and AUD$900 per tooth, depending on the complexity of the procedure.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care notes, “dental costs vary widely between dental clinics. That is because there are no standard fees for dentists like there are for doctors. Each clinic determines their own fees.”
And while teeth bonding costs significantly less than other cosmetic dentistry options, they may also be less long-lasting. They are unlikely to be covered by Medicare or public dental services because they are considered a cosmetic procedure.
Taking the slower route and fixing your dental issues with orthodontic devices may prove more affordable in the long run. Of course, adopting good dental hygiene and habits to avoid needing these procedures at all remains the best option.
How to care for bonded teeth
While not a permanent solution, a well-cared-for dental bonding can last up to ten years. Here are a few tips to keep your teeth bonding damage- and stain-free.
- Practise good oral hygiene by levelling up your tooth-brushing techniques and never forget to floss
- Avoid poor oral habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking or chewing, teeth grinding, chewing on ice or pens, etc.
- Stay away from foods that can crack or stain your teeth, including hard candy, nuts, berries, coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas and beers, and acidic juices.
Teeth bonding is just one option to help you get closer to that perfect smile. But it’s not without costs and is a temporary solution to boot. The best thing you can do is work with your dentist or orthodontist and use long-term treatments like braces or clear aligners to correct the underlying issues that keep you from flashing a confident smile.
References:
Better Health Channel, Government of Victoria Department of Health. (n.d.). Cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening. betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
Better Health Channel, Government of Victoria Department of Health. (n.d.). Dental treatment. betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
Canadian Dental Association. (n.d.). Bonding & veneers. CDA-ADC.ca.
Dental Board of Australia. (2023, August 28). Cosmetics procedures by dental practitioners are not without risk. Dentalboard.gov.au
Fan-Chiang, Y.S., Chou, P.C., Hsiao, Y.W., Cheng, Y.H., Huwang, Y., Chiu, Y.C., Lin, Y.J., Mine, Y., Feng, S.W., Lee, I.T., & Peng, T.Y. (2023, November). Optimizing dental bond strength: Insights from comprehensive literature review and future implications for clinical practice. Biomedicines, 11(11): 2995. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112995
Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Cost of dental care. Healthdirect.gov.au
Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Veneers. Healthdirect.gov.au
