Composite Bonding

Composite bonding is often used to improve the appearance of teeth, thus enhancing one’s smile.  This technique and section is typically applicable to permanent teeth.  Frequent uses of composite bonding are to:

   •  Repair chipped or cracked teeth
   •  Reduce unfavorable spaces between teeth
   •  Hide discolored portions of the tooth’s surface

This process preserves healthy tooth structure, to which composite material is bonded.  Unlike veneers or crowns, composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth.

Composite bonding has many advantages:

   •  It is a quick process, which typically lasts less than one hour.
   •  It does not reduce the tooth’s original structure
   •  Composite comes in many different shades and allows for proper shade matching to facilitate a natural appearance of the restoration 

All dental treatment must be properly maintained.  In order to provide a favorable long-term prognosis, composite bonding should be brushed and flossed daily – just like the rest of your teeth!  Certain foods and drinks can cause staining of the composite bonding and should be avoided as much as possible.  Potentially stain-causing items include coffee, tea, soda, tobacco and candy.  Composite bonding on front teeth may fracture.  Therefore, chewing hard items such as candy, apples or ice with the bonded front teeth should be avoided as much as possible.