How Dental Bonding Solves Your Smile Flaws

You may have delayed a cosmetic dental consultation because you’re convinced that fixing your smile will take more time and money than you have. However, if you’re hiding your teeth behind closed lips, here’s something that could make you smile: many dental flaws can be fixed with a simple, economical procedure called dental bonding. 

At Goodman Dental Center, our team uses a composite resin in a shade that matches your surrounding teeth to cover imperfections on one or more teeth. The procedure is called bonding because the resin attaches firmly to your tooth.

Many tooth imperfections go away with dental bonding 

Natural-looking dental bonding that matches the shade of your teeth blends seamlessly into your smile. Here are a few tooth imperfections dental bonding corrects:

Cracked or chipped teeth

If you have a habit of biting your pencil, fingernails, hard candy, or ice, you can crack or chip a tooth. Playing sports is also a common culprit for sustaining a chip or a crack in a tooth. Sometimes a large filling can weaken the tooth so that a piece chips off. 

Discolored teeth

Teeth may stain or yellow due to a variety of factors. Drinking dark beverages such as coffee, tea, or red wine may cause discoloration. Even blueberries and other deeply colored berries can stain your teeth. 

Medications for high blood pressure, seasonal allergies, and psychological conditions can cause tooth discoloration. Age also plays a role. As you grow older, your tooth enamel becomes thinner and the yellowish material underneath it — called dentin — is exposed. 

Gapped teeth 

You have an unusually large gap between two of your teeth in the front of your mouth. Gapped teeth are harder to keep clean and cavity-free than well-fit teeth. If your gap embarrasses you, or if it compromises your oral health, we may be able to correct this imperfection with bonding. 

Alter tooth shape or length

Do you have a tooth that looks misshapen or is shorter than your other teeth? These problems can usually be corrected with dental bonding. 

Filling cavities

Metal fillings are unsightly and often contain toxins. We can fill your cavities with the safe, attractive composite resin used in dental bonding. This way, when you smile, no one sees black or gray areas on the top of your tooth where the filling lies. 

Dental bonding is simple and fast

You don’t need laughing gas or anesthesia for dental bonding. Dental bonding is a minor procedure. We apply a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. If you’re anxious about dental procedures, feel free to take a painkiller, too; but most people don’t need it.

After our team cleans your teeth, Dr. Goodman consults a guide to select the best color for your composite resin so that it matches your surrounding teeth. Then he roughens the surface of your tooth and coats it with a liquid that helps the resin bond. Next, he applies the resin, molding it to the shape of your natural tooth.

Dr. Goodman exposes the bonded surface to a special light that hardens the bonding material so that it dries quickly. He finishes the procedure by expertly polishing your tooth. When you look in the mirror, you see a brand new smile with no troublesome tooth imperfection. 

Learn more about tooth bonding and fixing your smile by consulting our team today. Call our office or request an appointment online.