Veneers can be a good solution if you need a dramatic smile makeover, but if you’re looking to make more subtle changes to your teeth, you may want to consider cosmetic dental bonding in Saginaw instead. With the help of a special material, Dr. Renkuntla can hide numerous minor flaws at once – and all over the course of just one appointment. Give us a call today to learn more about bonding!
Dental bonding is the process of applying composite resin to the front of your teeth and sculpting it in order to cover certain cosmetic flaws. Composite resin is the same kind of material used for fillings, but when placed directly on healthy enamel, it can hide chips, cracks, discoloration, and even small gaps.
Compared to other treatments, bonding is much more efficient; it only requires one visit, and it can take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete the process for a single tooth. And unlike veneers, we won’t need to make any permanent changes to the tooth’s structure.
The first step is for us to perform an examination of your smile as well as your overall health. Your teeth need to be largely intact; if you have severe damage or decay, you may need a veneer or a crown instead. During the planning stage, we can use digital imaging to show you what your teeth will look like after the procedure; that way you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth moving forward.
If you do decide to have bonding done, we’ll use a shade guide to choose the color of the composite resin so that it looks as natural as possible inside your mouth. At the beginning of the procedure, we’ll roughen the surface of your tooth before applying a conditioning liquid (doing so makes it easier for the composite resin to bond with the enamel). We will then carefully apply the bonding material to the appropriate areas. After molding and smoothing it, we’ll expose the resin to a bright light to harden it. Once that is done, we’ll perform any necessary touch-ups, and after a thorough polishing, we can proudly show you your new smile in the mirror!
After your teeth have been bonded, you can expect the results to last for up to 10 years. To get the most out of it, it’s important to take good care of the material. Luckily, this is as simple as following good oral health practices, including: