Mask Minor Tooth Irregularities with Dental Bonding

Like a white filling, composite bonding is a material that blends right in with your smile. However, it’s there to hide surface irregularities as opposed to treating decay. Because bonding seals tightly against your tooth structure, our cosmetic dentist can place it nearly anywhere on your smile.

Here are a few of the most common cosmetic conditions that Dr. Jan Roberts treats with dental bonding:

• Small chips in the corners of teeth
• Mild gaps
• Exposed root surfaces or abfractions in the enamel
• Surface irregularities

Is Bonding Right for Me?

Our South Delta, BC cosmetic dentist may recommend an area of bonding if your smile is generally healthy but suffers from one or two mild to moderate atypical areas. Because even the smallest chip in a tooth can make you feel too embarrassed to smile, it’s important to address it before the problem gets worse.

While a chipped tooth may seem like a serious problem — and it is — it doesn’t call for an expensive treatment if the fracture is small enough. You may be thinking that a porcelain crown or dental veneers are in your future, but it could be that a small amount of bonding is all that you need.

As a quick and affordable cosmetic “fix,” bonding is something that almost anyone can consider. In fact, our Tsawwassen, BC patients often have composite bonding paired with other types of cosmetic treatments for effective and affordable results.

What to Expect During Treatment

Getting a tooth bonded is relatively easy. In some cases, it doesn’t even need to be anesthetized (numbed) for the treatment.

Dr. Roberts will gently condition or adjust the surface of the area being treated first. This helps to create a surface that will accommodate a tight bond with the composite material.

Next, the material will be color matched to the hue of your enamel using a shade guide. The appropriate one is selected and the composite is formed over the tooth to recreate a desirable shape.

Finally, a bright light is used to cure the soft composite so that it hardens and bonds to the tooth. That’s it! If anesthesia isn’t used, you won’t even feel numb afterward.

If you feel a bit nervous, it’s ok to request relaxation options to help you tune things out during your appointment.

When Bonding Isn’t Recommended

Cosmetic dental bonding should only be used in mild to moderate areas of tooth damage. If there is a large crack or broken biting edge, it is likely that something stronger — such as a full coverage porcelain crown — be used to both restore the tooth’s function as well as its appearance.

A Simple Cosmetic Fix for Almost Any Smile

Call our Tsawwassen, BC cosmetic dentist, Dr. Jan Roberts today at 604-943-3343 to schedule a consultation in our South Delta, BC office. You can also book online here. We’ll be happy to answer any questions that you have and get you booked for a new patient appointment. Be sure to ask about our other facial rejuvenation techniques and aesthetic services. We are proudly serving the Tsawwassen, South Delta and Point Roberts communities. We look forward to speaking with you!