When teeth are chipped or slightly decayed, bonded composite resins may be the material of choice to restore the damaged tooth. First, the tooth structure is cleaned and etched. Then a clear adhesive is applied to the area needing bonding. Once applied, a tooth colored bonding material is placed on the tooth. It is permanently hardened and fused to the tooth with a hand held white light gun. This process is called photo curing. Bonding makes a great tooth colored filling for small cavities and broken or chipped surfaces. It can also be used to close spaces between teeth. Additionally, it is used to cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color and shape. For the latter two applications, bonding has its limits. It may not be strong enough, aesthetic enough, or durable enough for certain individual situations. When these problems occur, the next choice would be porcelain laminate veneers.
Treatment Time
One to two hours per tooth.
Patient Maintenance
Professional cleaning three or four times yearly. Avoid hard foods on front teeth. Bonding to fill in a space is more susceptible to chipping. Proper use of floss daily is required. One problem with most direct bonded restorations is that they can stain or chip. Expect to have some repolishing or repair as necessary.
Results of Treatment
Most spaces can be filled in to look very natural.
Average Range of Treatment Life Expectancy
Three to Five years. Professional refinishing once every year or so.
Cost
Approximately $400 to $800.
Advantages
- Little or no reduction of tooth structure
- Anesthesia not always required
- Reversible procedure
- Economical, more so than crowning
- Teeth can also be lightened
Disadvantages
- Can chip or stain more easily than crowns
- Has limited esthetic life
- Treatment may involve extra teeth to obtain proportionate space closing
- Teeth may appear somewhat thicker