When you chip or crack a tooth, you want a quick way to make your tooth whole again. You also want your tooth to look natural. Dental bonding, also known as teeth bonding or cosmetic bonding, is a common cosmetic dentistry treatment. Horizon Family Dental Care offers teeth bonding in Baltimore, MD, to fix chipped and cracked teeth.

This procedure can improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile. Cosmetic bonding can fix many cosmetic concerns that affect your smile, like uneven teeth, tooth gaps, and stained teeth.

Our dentist can assess your teeth to determine if cosmetic bonding is the right treatment. The treatment is fast, cost-effective, and offers functional and cosmetic benefits. We personalize treatment to you. If you have one or more teeth you want to change, we can provide non-invasive care.

What is Teeth Bonding?

Teeth bonding involves applying a tooth-colored composite resin material to the surface of your tooth. Your cosmetic dentist will then shape and polish it to match your surrounding teeth. We can apply dental bonding to the back or front teeth.

The composite resin bonds securely to the tooth, effectively concealing imperfections and creating a natural-looking, seamless smile. Our dentist can use dental bonding to address minor cosmetic concerns. This makes it an excellent cosmetic dental procedure if you want to improve your smile without invasive procedures.

Bonding can treat:

• Chipped teeth
• Cracked teeth
• Stained teeth
• Uneven teeth
• Small tooth gaps
• Slightly crooked teeth

Tooth bonding will cover these teeth with a tooth-colored resin. We color-match this material to blend in with the other teeth in your mouth. Our dentist will also ensure the treated tooth is a natural shape and size.

Is Teeth Bonding For Me?

Teeth bonding is ideal if you have minor dental imperfections. This treatment can fix chipped, cracked, discolored, and uneven teeth. Bonding can also address teeth with uneven edges and small gaps between teeth. The bonding material suits people who want to enhance their teeth without extensive treatment.

Dental crowns and porcelain veneers are more permanent options that require more tooth preparation. We recommend bonding if you want to fix one or several imperfect teeth but don’t want to lose part of your natural teeth.

Veneers and crowns will permanently change your teeth, while bonding is removable. However, if you wish to whiten your teeth, we may suggest professional teeth whitening first.

Before treatment, our Baltimore dentist at Horizon Family Dental Care will provide an exam. At this consultation, our dentist will determine if bonding is the right solution for your specific dental concerns. The best candidates for tooth bonding have one or more cosmetic imperfections but have good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing are essential to keep bonded teeth bright and long-lasting.

What to Expect: Teeth Bonding in Baltimore, MD

The tooth bonding procedure is simple. Our Baltimore dentist can complete it in a single visit that lasts about 30 to 60 minutes.

First, our dentist will select a resin color that closely matches your natural tooth color. Then, our dentist will roughen up the tooth’s surface slightly and apply a conditioning liquid. This helps the bonding material adhere to the tooth.

Once your tooth is ready, our dentist will apply the putty-like resin material to your tooth. Our dentist will mold, shape, and smooth it to achieve the desired shape. We use a special UV light to harden the resin, bonding it securely to the tooth.

The last step is to apply the finishing touches. Our dentist will polish the resin to blend seamlessly with your surrounding, natural teeth.

How to Care for Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is not meant to be a long-term cosmetic solution. It can last 3-10 years, depending on which tooth it is on and oral habits. Most dentists consider it a temporary to medium-term solution.

However, bonding is more cost-effective and less invasive than other options like veneers. Bonding offers a quick, affordable treatment for a single damaged or stained tooth.

While teeth bonding is often safe and minimally invasive, you must consider a few things. After teeth bonding treatment in our Baltimore, MD office, we will recommend:

Good Oral Hygiene

Bonded teeth require regular oral health care, including brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups. Proper oral hygiene will help prevent staining and make your results last longer. This will also ensure your bonded teeth stay white.

Avoiding Staining Agents

Bonded teeth can stain like natural teeth. After treatment, you should limit coffee, red wine, and tobacco. This will prevent the bonding material from staining or turning yellow.

Avoiding Hard Objects

Also, bonded teeth are less strong than natural teeth or dental restorations like porcelain veneers or dental crowns. Therefore, you must be mindful of what you chew or bite.

You can damage the resin bonding if you chew on ice, bite your nails, or use your teeth to open packages. In addition, do not bite or chew on hard objects like fingers, nails, pen caps, and hard candy. You can chip or break the bonded teeth.

We also often recommend that you eat softer foods right after treatment. Once you’re used to your new bite, you can begin to eat crunchy foods.

Regular Dental Visits

You must attend your regular dental visits. During these visits, the dentist will ensure your bonded teeth are in good shape and address any dental issues promptly. Our dentist will also polish the bonded surface to help maintain the tooth’s appearance.

Unike other cosmetic treatments like veneers, bonding is easily reversible. If you damage or discolor your bonded teeth, we can remove the material. Then, we can cover your tooth with a new treatment.

Contact Our Office

Bonding is a valuable cosmetic dentistry treatment that can enhance your smile’s appearance. Cosmetic bonding is quick, affordable, and non-invasive.

To learn more about teeth bonding in Baltimore, MD, visit Horizon Family Dental Care. You can schedule an appointment online by filling out the form. If you have questions about your treatment, let us know at your next appointment and we can help.