Dental Bonding:
How Long Does It Last?

Do you suffer from chipped teeth or an unattractive gap between your front teeth that you are not happy with? Dental bonding may be just what the dentist ordered to repair these kinds of cosmetic issues. And at EK Dental Surgery, we are experts in applying dental bonding!

Before deciding if dental bonding is appropriate for your teeth, however, you should think about the procedure’s result including how long a tooth bonding can be expected to last.

What is tooth bonding used for?

Tooth bonding can be used to make several kinds of cosmetic improvement:

• To fill cavities (composite resins are used to fill cavities) or repair teeth
• To improve the color of stained teeth
• To cover the spaces between wide-gapped teeth
• To lengthen teeth
• To change tooth shape
• To protect a tooth’s root if it is exposed by receding gums

What is dental bonding?

Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure in which a tooth-coloured composite resin material is applied to your teeth to improve your smile. Bonding can improve the look and feel of teeth that are chipped, cracked, broken, stained, or have unsightly gaps between them.

Preparation

No preparation is required and anaesthesia is often unneeded unless the bonding is filling a decayed tooth.

How it’s Done

Your Glen Waverley dentist selects a composite resin colour that most closely matches the colour of your teeth

Then, your dentist will slightly abrade/etch the enamel of the tooth to roughen it.

A conditioning liquid that helps the bonding material adhere is then applied and your dentist applies a tooth-coloured resin. The resin is shaped and smoothed until it is the right shape. Next an ultraviolet light or laser is used to harden the resin.

After it has hardened, your dentist will trim, shape, and polish the resin until it looks just right.

The entire process normally takes about 30 minutes.

Veneer Bonding

An alternative to a dental bonding is a veneer, made from either porcelain or composite, which is then place on top of the teeth. Porcelain is the stronger material and requires a mould to be created before manufacture of the veneer. Composites are a more economical alternative to porcelain. Whether the material is porcelain or composite, the veneer is bonded to the tooth in a quick appointment at your EK Dental Surgery office.

Extending the lifespan of dental bonding

Composite bonding won’t last as long as veneers, but the lifespan of your tooth bonding is partly under your control.

The 3 to 10 year lifespan of bonding is something to think about when choosing to undergo the treatment. If you follow some simple precautions and take proper care of your bonded teeth, you’ll get plenty of good years out of your new and improved smile.

There are two major antagonists to bonded teeth, these are chipping/breaking and staining.

It is important to avoid bad habits that might lead to chipping. Do not bite your fingernails, chew on hard objects including pens, ice, or hard foods such as candy. Also, be aware of foods that might pull at a tooth bonding, such as French Bread or corn.

Another element that plays into the life of the bond is the area that was bonded. Also, if you suffer from tooth-grinding this can adversely affect your bondings. See your dentist about a night mouth guard if you do grind.

Bonded teeth do not call for special dental care at home. Follow your normal good oral hygiene practices and they should be fine. So, as we always recommend, brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time, floss at least once daily, and visit your EK Dental Surgery dentist as recommended for routine cleaning and maintenance.

Certain substances can stain the resin used in bonding. Coffee, tea and tobacco products (of all kinds) are three of the biggest culprits. Definitely avoid food and drinks of these kinds for the first two days after a bonding procedure and make sure to keep your teeth as clean as possible afterward. Develop good dietary habits and use a toothpaste recommended by your dentist.

If you notice changes to a bonded tooth or if your bite begins to feel unusual, call EK Dental Surgery immediately.

So, how long will your bonding last? That’s partly up to you. But if you do your part to take proper care of your bonded teeth, you’ll get plenty of mileage out of your new smile.

Reasons to Smile at EK Dental Surgery!

EK Dental Surgery offers a wide range of preventative and cosmetic dental procedures for children, seniors, and everyone in between! At EK Dental we can help you achieve maximal dental health and a movie-star smile!

Call us on (03) 9887 8787 or visit us at 230 Springvale Road Glen Waverley