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What Is Composite Bonding?

10 November 2020
Reviewed by Dr. Niall Vallely
Dr. Niall Vallely Profile Image

Table of Contents

Composite bonding is a modern way to restore teeth, either for cosmetic reasons, or to build up tooth structure that has been lost.

It involves bonding a tooth coloured resin material to existing teeth to reshape them or improve their colour.

We bond on very strongly the resin material, polish it up, and this will last for many years.

Composite bonding is appropriate for pretty much every patient.

Any little imperfection can be improved with composite bonding. Large gaps between teeth and badly broken down teeth can be built up again with this very conservative treatment. Dr. Niall Vallely

Why Is Composite Bonding Necessary?

Bonding is not necessary, it is purely a cosmetic treatment. Bonding does not usually require the dentist to remove any part of your tooth.

It is composite material that is glued to your teeth to give them your preferred shape or colour.

Composite Bonding Before and Afters

composite bonding - rickie - before - 3Dental
composite bonding - rickie - after - 3Dental

Rickie (Click to Enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding
composite bonding - smile 5 - before - 3Dental
composite bonding - smile 5 - after - 3Dental

Before & After (Click to enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding
before - edge bonding - 3Dental
after - edge bonding - 3Dental

Before and After (Click to enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding
composite-bonding-smile16-before-3dental
composite-bonding-smile16-after-3dental

Before and After (Click to enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding
dental bonding - before -3dental
dental bonding - after - 3dental

Before & After (Click to enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding
composite bonding before 3dental
composite bonding after 3dental

Before & After (Click to enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding

View our cosmetic smile gallery for more before and afters!

Composite Bonding Testimonial: Anita Toner

Anita Toner recently had composite bonding at our Limerick clinic and has been kind enough to talk us through her experience.

Anita had some intitial concerns about the composite bonding treatment, such as:

  • Will there be any side effects?
  • Will I need an anaesthetic?

Dr. Mariana explained everything and made sure that Anita was comfortable to proceed. Find out more about Anita's story in the video!

I've learnt how to smile for the first time in 18 years! Anita Toner

Interested In Composite Bonding?

Book Your Free Consultation

Can Bonding Keep My Tooth Structure Intact?

Composite bonding is particularly great because we don’t remove any tooth structure. To bond, we add directly onto the tooth. Dr. Niall Vallely

The restoration will last 5-6 years before it needs to be polished up or repaired in some way.

Composite bonding is a completely pain free procedure. There is: 

  • No anaesthetic required
  • No drilling required
  • No change to the existing tooth structure

Just polishing of the teeth, and then gently adding on the resin material and then giving that a very high grade polish at the end.

Can I Get Bonding After Orthodontic Treatment?

We often provide composite bonding to our patients after braces. Often when the teeth are misaligned, they can get a lot of wear and chipping especially on the front teeth.

This can be very noticeable when the teeth have been straightened. We can then build up the teeth after the braces have been removed with bonding.

This results in straight and properly shaped teeth and the results can be dramatic.

Is Bonding Suitable For Damaged & Discoloured Teeth?

We can also provide composite bonding to damaged and discoloured teeth - especially teeth with white marks on the front (a very common problem in Ireland due to the fluoride in water). 

By removing a little of the blemish from the front of the tooth (often we don’t need anaesthetic as the blemish is usually shallow) we can restore the tooth or teeth and make them look pretty much perfect again.

Considering Going Abroad For Dental Bonding? Wait!

We’ve seen a number of dental bonding cases in recent times that have not gone well. We're sorry to say that this is typically as a result of people going to Turkey to see a dentist for a ‘cheaper’ price.

If this is something you are thinking about doing, we would suggest that you take a moment to reflect on the following:

  • If there is an issue with your teeth after your treatment abroad, you have nowhere to turn.
  • Clinics in eastern Europe are not regulated by any dental bodies
  • If you have a dispute with a clinic, it's up to you to resolve it
  • Bear in mind that while the price of the dental work may seem affordable, you will also need to pay for flight, hotel, food and transportation

Our dentistry abroad page has videos of some of our great patients who were thinking about going abroad for dental work, but then decided to proceed with 3Dental. Find out to what they had to say.

We also encourage people who are considering going abroad for dental work to book a free consultation with us.

That way, at least you can make a more informed decision as to what your options are.

Booking Your Consultation

book your free consultation at 3dental

During your free consultation, we can discuss the full range of possible treatments, whether it be orthodontics, veneers (composite, porcelain or other) or dental bonding.

We often offer bonding in conjunction with tooth whitening (bleaching). This is especially popular after braces and also with wedding parties to improve their teeth before the big day. 

We usually recommend that you bleach your teeth first as it helps to see the final colour of your teeth before we add the bonding.

We can then use a perfectly matched colour of composite to improve the tooth’s appearance.

Interested In Composite Bonding?

Book Your Free Consultation

Smokers

The only people that we generally don’t recommend bonding to are heavy smokers.

This is because smoking can stain up the bonding over time. We are always happy to treat smokers and will happily discuss smoking cessation programmes with them but for those who want to continue smoking we usually recommend veneers instead of bonding.

These stain less. This does not apply to vaping. People who vape can have bonding done without any problem.

Composite Bonding Cost

Dental bonding costs €175-€300 per tooth, depending on the bonding treatment required.

Bonding TypePrice
Incisal Edge Bonding€175 per tooth
Composite Bonding€275-€300 per tooth

Our full range of cosmetic dentistry prices can be found on our price list page.

More Information On Composite Bonding

Composite bonding - before - 3Dental
Composite bonding - after - 3Dental

Before and After (Click to enlarge)

Dental Cosmetic Bonding

Bonding is a treatment that we are very passionate and we have seen it transform many many patient smiles here at 3Dental Dublin, Limerick and Galway.

We have more information on this great treatment in the following articles and pages:

Interested In Composite Bonding?

Book Your Free Consultation

Conclusion

Composite bonding is an affordable way to get the smile you've always dreamed of.

We've given you a sample of some before and afters pictures here, however, please also head over to our Smile Gallery and Testimonial pages to get a feel for more results that we get for our patients.

We've got clinics in Dublin, Limerick and Galway.

Get in touch today to book your free consultation :)

Recent Reviews

Owen

“Never bothered by having to go to the dentist again. I had to get whitening, bonding and a crown done over the space of a year and it was a great experience. The team are A1 and Fergal is a great...”

Keith O'Brien

“I would highly recommend 3Dental. This time last year I was in constant pain with infections and my teeth were in a bad way. I came across 3Dental while searching for dental implants. I had...”

Eileen Dempsey

“I have just had my Implant, from Doctor Peter Doherty, and have to say i was treated so well from start to finish, and the end result is amazing. I am so very happy with my new smile, i will attend...”

Viv van der Holst

“Firstly apologies for the delay in writing this review. I have been too busy smiling again :) And chewing food normally. I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel towards Dr Andoni Jones and his...”

Sean Dentur

“I got 6 implants over past 2 years in 3Dental. Very efficient/professional and kind staff. Would highly recommend them.”

Whitney Culleton

“I had an consultation for composite bonding with a female dentist back in December and I left not feeling great about the app so rather than leaving a bad review I reached out to Dr Niall for a...”

Tara Henshaw

“I had composite bonding done with Dr Carmen and gingivectomy with Dr Andoni Jones , they were both brilliant. Thanks so much to them both they were so friendly and so good at their job I'm delighted...”

Caitlin Morrison

“I've been going to 3Dental the last year with Dr Carmen. She's amazing so nice and her work is great Got my composite bonding with her defo recommend always give advice and always there if needs be...”

Jane Russell

“Such a brilliant clinic with fantastic service. Had to have a couple of things done with fillings and bonding so I saw a number of dentists, all of whom were total pros and expert at what they do. A...”

Caroline O'Brien

“I have had lots of treatment and also my 2 daughters here in 3Dental which included root canal wisdom tooth extraction crowns and now implants and All on the same premises. All staff we have met have...”

Zoe Bates

“I had 8 edge composite bondings on the top done and I'm super happy with my results. After braces my teeth were straight but all different sizes/shapes on the edge so bonding was the perfect...”

Abby Garcia

“Excellent place and fantastic job. I'm so happy with my veneers. I've wanted normal teeth for over 30 years and I'm so so happy with the results achieved by Dr Daniel Kim. Such a nice guy and really...”

Laura O'Brien

“Would highly recommend 3Dental to anyone. I have been getting a lot of cosmetic work done between, dental implants, crowns and veneers and through every stage they have walked me through what would...”

Michelle Walsh

“Got my smile back thanks to Paul and Andoni! Started my treatment this time last year and wish I had done it sooner! Paul is such a perfectionist and really listens to you (I was a nervous patient)...”

Nicola Myler

“An accident happened the weekend with my front tooth veneer I am from Waterford and couldn't get an appointment down here for another 2 weeks so I was so upset and my sister told me to ring 3Dental...”

Helen Redmond

“Amazing experience with 3Dental. Got Invisalign which didn't move one tooth. Needed to get fixed braces but it was seamless. Also had my braces during Covid pandemic. Although I could go to the...”

Emma Keating

“I had composite bonding done here by Dr Carmen. She was very patient and made sure I was completely happy with the final result before I left, she even offered to fix anything I was unhappy with...”

Lyle Andre

“Outstanding service from start to finish, I recently had my braces removed after 2 years with 3Dental and I have never been happier with my results. The lovely Katrina was my very competent dentist...”

The Scarlet Gamer

“I am so happy with the professional service I receive anytime I go to 3Dental. The new office is spacious & well designed. The staff are friendly & efficient. I love how they offer everything under...”

Lorraine Fleming

“I am in the process of having a front bridge to replace a bad front tooth, I am overwhelmed with the difference already, I'm actually smiling again and my confidence has already improved. Niall and...”

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