Tooth bonding, also known as composite veneers or cosmetic bonding, is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to restore broken or chipped surfaces or decayed teeth to full beauty and function. 

It is also used to improve cosmetic issues such as discoloration, or to “reshape” misaligned, uneven or irregularly shaped (teeth with bulges), as well as minor spacing irregularities.  

An enamel-like material known as composite resin is applied directly to a tooth’s surface, sculpted to an ideal shape, hardened, and then polished for an ideal smile. Bonding materials are called “composite resins” because they contain a mixture of plastic and glass, which adds strength and translucency. The composite actually bonds, or becomes one, with the rest of the tooth.

Composite resins come in a variety of tooth shades for truly lifelike results. When bonding is done with a skilled hand and an artistic eye, it may be impossible to distinguish the bonded tooth from its neighbors.

Bonding is also used as a cost-effective alternative to other cosmetic dental procedures, such as crowns and porcelain veneers. It is often used to close gaps between teeth or cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color and shape. Tooth bonding can also increase the size of a tooth to match the rest of your teeth.

Cosmetic bonding is simpler than other cosmetic dental procedures. This procedure doesn’t typically require anesthesia — unless you’re filling a cavity — and is typically completed in a single visit.  

Your Bonding Process:

At Scarborough Dental Care, we begin your visit by using a shade guide to select the composite resin color to match the color of your adjacent teeth.

After preparing the tooth, the tooth is etched with a gel and rinsed, and a bonding agent is applied. We then apply a layer of composite resin over the tooth, shape it and harden the material with an LED light. Once the first layer is cured, additional layers are applied and cured until the restoration has been built up to the necessary thickness. The bonding material is then shaped to just the right form. Once the tooth not only looks great but fits in perfectly with your bite, it will receive a final polishing.

Composite bonding is a versatile and cost-effective solution to restore decayed or chipped teeth and to correct many aesthetic concerns to full beauty and function. With proper care, a bonded tooth can stay beautiful up to 4 - 5 years.