There are many different ways that a dental care specialist can enhance the overall quality and beauty of your smile. Some options are less invasive than others. One example is dental bonding, which is a popular option for enhancing the appearance of smiles. Before you meet with a Reston cosmetic dentist to discuss your different treatment options, we’d like to provide a basic look at dental bonding so you understand what it can achieve and what to expect from treatment.
WHAT IS DENTAL BONDING?
Dental bonding refers to the use of special composite resin to mask imperfections in a person’s smile. When in place, this dental resin is completely indistinguishable from the natural structure of a tooth.
THE DENTAL BONDING PROCEDURE
Once the teeth are cleaned, the tooth getting treated will be carefully scuffed on the surface. This will ensure that the bonding resin will stick better. The dentist will then mix the dental resin, making sure that it is color matched to the patient’s tooth.
When the dental resin is ready, the dentist will then paint the composite material directly onto the tooth. Before you leave our cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice in Reston, the bonding material will be dried and then polished so your tooth looks as good as new.
Let’s now take a look at some ways that dental bonding can be used.
Before treatment with oral sedation, patients must undergo a consultation to determine if they are proper candidates. A complete list of medications and medical history must be considered to help ensure the safety of oral sedation treatment. That being said, oral sedation medications are generally considered safe with low risk of minor side effects. Possible side effects include:
- Dry mouth
- Little or no memory of the dental procedure
- Light headedness
If your jaw or bite is misaligned, it can lead to the blocked airway that may cause sleep apnea. Dental treatments can help open the airways and may alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. The two most common dental treatments for sleep apnea are,
DENTAL BONDING AND TOOTH DAMAGE
The most common way that dental bonding is used is to treat tooth damage. This means minor chips or cracks that are primarily cosmetic in nature. Though the bonding material is strong, the treatment is for cosmetic dentistry purposes only, meaning that major tooth damage will require another treatment option.
DENTAL BONDING AND TOOTH DISCOLORATION
Another common use for dental bonding is to conceal dental stains. This is an especially good idea to consider for tooth discoloration that does not respond well to teeth whitening or that originates within the tooth rather than on the tooth surface.
ALTERNATIVES TO DENTAL BONDING
In some cases, dental bonding will not be a good option for your cosmetic dental care needs. For more serious tooth damage that is still primarily aesthetic in nature, the better option to consider is Reston porcelain veneers. If the damage is a major dental health concern, even better options to consider are inlays, onlays, and dental crowns.
Similarly, in cases where the tooth discoloration originates on the surface of the tooth/teeth and affects most of a tooth’s surface, the better option to consider is teeth whitening treatment.
COMPREHENSIVE SMILE MAKEOVERS
And of course we should stress that dental bonding can be used in combination with other dental treatments, including porcelain veneers and teeth whitening. When multiple treatments are performed together, that is known as a smile makeover, which is one of the most effective ways that we can restore and improve a patient’s smile.
Similarly, in cases where the tooth discoloration originates on the surface of the tooth/teeth and affects most of a tooth’s surface, the better option to consider is teeth whitening treatment.
CONTACT OUR COSMETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTAL CARE CENTER
For more information about dental bonding and other advanced treatments for effective dental care, be sure to contact our Reston cosmetic dentistry center today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you make the best possible decision about your dental health.
Similarly, in cases where the tooth discoloration originates on the surface of the tooth/teeth and affects most of a tooth’s surface, the better option to consider is teeth whitening treatment.
