If you’re teeth are stained or discolored, then professional teeth whitening can likely brighten them considerably by erasing tooth stains and whitening your teeth’s structure; but what if a tooth’s stains won’t respond to whitening?
If your tooth chips or cracks, then a dental crown might protect it from further damage or infection in the future; but what if the crack is only cosmetic, and doesn’t really need to be covered with a crown?
Dental bonding, a popular cosmetic dental method, uses white composite resin to alter a tooth’s outward appearance without the need for complex treatment. Made from the same material as tooth-colored dental fillings, dental bonding can correct a multitude of cosmetic issues almost instantly.
Looks Like a Job For…Dental Bonding
The beauty of composite resin is that it can be tinted to the exact color and shade of your natural tooth structure, creating a restoration that’s virtually indistinguishable from your tooth. The functional benefit of composite resin is that it can easily be bonded to your tooth’s surface, then hardened with a curing light for increased durability. Besides stains and minor chips, dental bonding can also help improve teeth that are oddly spaced, slightly worn or misshapen, or somewhat crooked. If you have a cavity, or had a metal filling placed to treat one, then Dr. Wright or Dr. Heron may advise a dental filling comprised of tooth-colored resin. Their discreet appearance and the more formidable seal created by bonding the resin make tooth-colored fillings are more effective and cosmetically-appealing alternative to amalgam fillings.
The Bonding Process
The bonding process is a relatively simple one, and can be completed in just one visit for most patients. After matching the resin and your teeth’s color with a shade guide, Dr. Wright or Dr. Heron will prepare the tooth by coating its surface with a conditioning liquid. The liquid allows for a more secure bond. The resin is applied over the liquid and sculpted to your tooth’s ideal contour, then exposed to an ultraviolet light harden it. Once finished, your dental bonding will look and feel like your natural tooth, minus the blemish that bothered you before.
About Your Southlake Dentists:
As a native Texan, Dr. Gregory Wright opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.
