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Composite bonding or cosmetic bonding is a treatment where your dentist adds a special coloured resin to your teeth to improve their appearance.
It is absolutely pain free, no anaesthesia is needed and there is no permanent alteration to the natural tooth structure, as no drilling is necessary.
It (composite bonding) is a very good option for fixing chipped, fractured or discoloured teeth, to close small gaps or to improve the general appearance of your smile. Dr. Niall Vallely
Using modern materials and simple techniques, composite bonding is an affordable and faster alternative to dental crowns or veneers, as it can be done in one single visit to the dentist, which saves you time and money.
1. Composite Bonding For Crooked Teeth
Before and After (Click to enlarge)
Dental Cosmetic BondingComposite bonding can help to improve the appearance of slightly crooked teeth. By adding some composite resin in strategic places, your dentist can hide or mascarade misaligned teeth, improving the appearance of your smile.
However, please do keep in mind that it is only possible to correct minor position problems with composite bonding.
When tooth are more severely misaligned, we would recommend an orthodontic treatment prior to bonding.
2. Composite Bonding For Bottom Teeth
Composite bonding can be used to improve the aesthetic of the bottom teeth as well, but there are some factors that need to be considered before doing it, like the patient’s bite and how the top and bottom teeth meet.
If the patient has bruxism or suffers from teeth grinding, dental bonding is not a good option because the composite resin is not strong enough to resist to the forces and may fracture.
3. Can Composite Bonding Close Gaps In My Front Teeth?
Rickie (Click to enlarge)
Dental Cosmetic BondingYes! Composite bonding is a very good option for closing small gaps between teeth. Either for a single gap or multiple small gaps between all the teeth, you can achieve amazing results with bonding.
Your dentist places the composite resin on the teeth, closing the gaps between them or making them more discrete if it is not possible to close them completely.
However, if the gap is too big, the dentist might consider a quick orthodontic treatment before going with the bonding, to avoid extremely big or disproportional teeth.
4. Composite Bonding Versus Veneers
There are some differences between composite bondings and veneers that need to be considered by both the dentist and the patient before going ahead with any treatment.
Here are the most important ones:
Differences Between Composite Bonding & Veneers
| Composite Bonding | Veneers |
|---|---|
| Non-invasive treatment. No drilling or permanent damage to the natural teeth is done, and it can be easily repaired if needed. | Veneers are irreversible, as the tooth needs to be drilled to perfectly fit it. |
| Offers immediate results, as it can be done in one single visit to the dentist. | Veneers require at least two visits, with a space of a few weeks between them, so the technicians have time to prepare the veneer in the dental laboratory. |
| Cheaper than porcelain veneers. Composite bonding is between €275 and €300 per tooth. | A porcelain veneer costs €600 per tooth. |
| Lasts from 5 to 7 years, if the patient takes good care of it. | Porcelain veneers are expected to last at least 15 years. |
| They don’t break or chip easily and they don’t stain or discolour as the composite resin does. | Porcelain veneers are significantly more resistant than composite bondings. |
The best way to determine which solution is right for you is to talk to your dentist about your aesthetic goals.
If you’re looking for the most cost-effective solution, then composite bonding is a very good fit.
However, if the patient has a severe aesthetic problem and is looking for a long lasting solution, then porcelain veneers might be the best option.
5. Does It Hurt?
Composite bonding is absolutely pain free. No injection is necessary and there is no drilling in the natural teeth. Dr. Niall Vallely
The composite resin will be added to the clean surface of the tooth, and gently polished in the end.
6. What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages Of Composite Bonding?
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Painless procedure - No injections required | It is not as strong as other cosmetic materials - the bonding can break or chip under pressure. |
| No drilling - The tooth structure is preserved | Composite resin can stain under certain habits and pigments, like smoking or frequent coffee/tea drinking. Some types of food and drinks can also cause discoloration of the composite. |
| Durability - Bonding is expected to last between 5 to 7 years if the patient takes good care of it and has regular visits to the hygienist. | It is short, compared to the 15 years that a porcelain veneer is expected to last. |
| No lab work necessary - Can be done in one single visit to the dentist. | |
| Price - Cheaper than other cosmetic treatments |
7. Composite Bonding Near Me
We have clinics in:
- The Red Cow Complex, Naas Rd, Fox-And-Geese, Dublin, D22 KV24
- Old Quarter House, Little Ellen St, Limerick, V94 D72V
- 28 Briarhill Business Park, Galway, H91 C9DR
We offer free consultations in all our clinics - allowing you to get all your questions answered before you proceed with treatment!
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GalwayConclusion
For patients who have healthy natural teeth and desire a quick solution to improve the appearance or their smile, composite bonding is a fast, painless and affordable option.
It is the least invasive way of getting teeth aesthetically restored.
It is suitable for almost everyone and cheaper than other cosmetic treatments. You can get immediate results, as it only requires one visit to the dentist. Check out our Smile Gallery and Testimonials pages to see and hear from our previous bonding patients.
So, if you have any minor dental problems that you are not happy with, talk to us about composite bonding. It might be the best solution to make you smile again!