Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-coloured resin material is used for structural and cosmetic purposes to improve your smile. It is placed and shaped on the tooth and then hardened with a special light. This “bonds” the material to the tooth to restore or improve a smile.

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered to:

• repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
• repair chipped or cracked teeth
• improve the appearance of discoloured teeth
• close spaces between teeth
• make the teeth look longer
• change the shape of a tooth
• be a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
• protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede

Little advance preparation is needed for dental bonding. Anaesthesia may not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Dr. Liang will use a shade guide to select a composite resin color that will closely match the colour of your tooth.

Next, the surface of the tooth will be lightly roughened with an etching liquid to help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-coloured, putty-like resin is then applied, molded and smoothed to the desired shape. An ultraviolet light is then used to harden the material, after which, Dr. Liang will further trim and shape, polish, and smooth the restoration to match the rest of the tooth surface.

Bonding is be best suited for small cosmetic changes, for temporary correction of cosmetic defects, protection of root surfaces, and replacement of old amalgams Consult with Dr. Liang about the best cosmetic approach for your particular problem.