If only there were a couple of magic words you or your dentist could use to make flaws affecting your teeth disappear in moments (well… minutes). It turns out there are! They go something like Abraca-dental bonding! Forgive us for being cute about it, but it’s true. Dental bonding can work wonders… and a lot more quickly, easily and comfortably than you might realize.

Dentists at Destination Dental & Wellness use dental bonding with composite resin materials to fill chips and cracks, to cover discoloured enamel, to repair cavities, to change the shape and size of teeth, and even to shrink gaps between teeth. Bonding is generally completed without requiring any anesthesia and is a quick and simple method of achieving small effects that can have large cumulative impacts.

Before applying dental bonding near you, your dentist in SE Calgary will roughen the surface of the tooth area being bonded using an etching substance. Etching the tooth will help the composites to adhere more securely to the tooth. Your dentist will tint the composite resins to match your natural tooth material as closely as possible before shaping the putty-like compound to mask the flaw or fill the gap at issue. Once the putty is in place and smoothened, it will be exposed to ultraviolet light to cure and harden before it’s polished to match your other teeth. A typical repair completed via dental bonding near you takes half an hour to an hour.

Why should you consider bonding?

A dentist near you in Inglewood may recommend that you undergo dental bonding if you have any of the following characteristics:

• Cracks or chips on your teeth
• Discoloured teeth
• Teeth shorter than others that you’d like lengthened for consistency
• Teeth misshapen in a way that adding compound strategically would correct the shape
• You have small gaps between your teeth that you’d prefer were closed
• Your gums have receded and roots exposed that should be covered to minimize sensitivity

The advantages and disadvantages of dental bonding

As is the case with any dental procedure, dental bonding in SE Calgary has advantages and disadvantages and situations in which it is an ideal solution or strictly verboten. Whether bonding is appropriate for you in your particular circumstances is something you should discuss with a dentist in SE Calgary who knows the condition of your teeth and your goals. Generally speaking, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of dental bonding:

Advantages	Disadvantages
The least expensive cosmetic dentistry option	The bonding compound is not as strong or durable as more expensive options like veneers and crowns
The simplest cosmetic dentistry option	Bonding will require touch-ups or replacement after approximately 10 years
Only one appointment is required	Bonding compounds are vulnerable to chipping if you chew ice, bite on pencils, chew your fingernails, clench your jaw or grind your teeth
The bonding compound can be colour matched to surrounding teeth and polished to blend naturally	Bonding compounds are not highly stain-resistant and can be stained by smoking and drinking coffee
Bonding is usually completed without using anesthesia, but anesthesia is sometimes applied when bonding is being used to fill a cavity

There are no special requirements for caring for bonded surfaces though anything you can do to preserve the health of the underlying tooth will also extend the life of the tooth’s bonded areas. Aside from diligent daily dental hygiene habits, someone with bonded areas on highly visible teeth should avoid drinking coffee, tea and red wine and smoking cigarettes for several days after the bonding is applied.

The relative simplicity, convenience and economical cost of dental bonding make it an ideal solution for achieving quick fixes to relatively small and minor flaws in areas where strength and durability are not paramount considerations. Where a repair requires a stronger or more durable solution, bonding may not be appropriate. In that case, making the more significant investment — in time and money — in veneers or crowns may be more appropriate and rewarding.