Dental Bonding: Your Most Affordable Option for Cosmetic Dentistry

Have you always wanted your teeth to look a little longer, smoother or whiter, but have never done anything about it because of the costs of cosmetic dentistry? You may not be aware of one affordable option: dental bonding. Here, respected dentist Dr. Chris McDonald explains why dental bonding is a great and practical option for improving the appearance of your smile.

What Bonding Can Do

Dental bonding can make a variety of aesthetic improvements to a single flawed tooth or many imperfect teeth. Dr. McDonald has used bonding to:

• Match a discolored tooth to the shade of the other teeth
• Shorten the gaps between teeth
• Cover cracked or chipped teeth
• Extend the length of short teeth

What dental bonding cannot do is strengthen a tooth or serve a reconstructive purpose. Since dental bonding cannot help an unhealthy tooth, Dr. McDonald recommends that you address those issues before choosing a cosmetic treatment.

How Dental Bonding Works

Dental bonding uses resin (a sturdy plastic material) to cover imperfections on a tooth. Resin is blended to match the desired shade of your tooth or teeth, usually to match neighboring teeth. This resin starts in putty form, which allows Dr. McDonald to mold it over your target tooth or teeth. He then shines an ultraviolet light onto the resin so that it almost instantaneously hardens and holds its shape.

After checking that the bonding is secure, Dr. McDonald buffs and polishes the resin so that it is smooth and looks like the other natural teeth in your mouth. The entire treatment is quick and so gentle that it does not require Novocain.

Comparing Bonding to Other Cosmetic Procedures

Bonding is generally the least expensive way to make cosmetic improvements to your teeth. The trade-off for the cost is that bonding is less durable than other materials. While resin can last on a tooth that is well taken care of for five to 10 years, that is far less time than veneers last. However, many patients prefer bonding because it is a non-invasive, non-painful procedure at a lower cost. After all, veneers are not only more expensive, but also permanently alter the teeth. If at any point you decide to reverse your bonding, it can safely be scraped off with no effect to your teeth.

One main exception may be when it comes to teeth whitening. While bonding can change the shade of each tooth individually, it is usually much more economical to choose professional teeth whitening for this task.

Speak to Dr. McDonald about Dental Bonding

If you are interested in learning more about dental bonding and the kind of changes it can achieve for a problem tooth, please schedule an appointment at McDonald Family Dentistry in Urbandale, IA by calling (515) 334-3838.

Posted Under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Bonding