Teeth Bonding in Mountain View, CA
When a tooth becomes discolored, decayed, chipped or cracked, tooth bonding is one of the most cost-effective forms of cosmetic dentistry available to treat the problem. Dr. Cassara can apply a tooth-colored composite resin to the surface of the tooth. This simple procedure requires only a single office visit, unlike dental veneers which require a mold of the teeth to be created, laboratory manufacturing time and finally the application of the veneers in another visit.
Uses of Tooth Bonding
Tooth bonding resin can be polished and expertly shaped by Dr. Cassara to match the surrounding teeth. It is most frequently used as a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of one or more teeth that are discolored, chipped or otherwise damaged. Bonding can fill gaps between teeth, elongate the teeth, or otherwise alter the visible shape of the teeth for cosmetic reasons. The procedure is even a viable alternative to amalgam fillings. Tooth bonding can even be used to protect the roots of teeth if a patient has receding gums.
Tooth Bonding Procedure
No special preparations are needed for tooth bonding, and as mentioned, it can be performed in a single visit to Dr. Cassara’s office. Unless the bonding is necessary to fill an infected tooth, you won’t even need a local anesthetic. The procedure is totally painless.
Dr. Cassara will select a shade of composite resin that matches the natural color of your tooth. Then, the surface of the tooth will be abraded to roughen it. A conditioning solution is then applied to the tooth, which will allow the composite resin to bond to the tooth more easily.
Once the tooth is ready, Dr. Cassara will apply the composite resin to it. The resin will be sculpted into the proper shape and then ultraviolet light can be applied to quickly harden it. After the material hardens, Dr. Cassara will trim, shape and polish the bonding resin until achieving the desired result. This process takes only 30 minutes to an hour to complete for one tooth. If you wish to have multiple teeth bonded, it may require additional office visits.
Tooth Bonding After-Care
Dr. Cassara will give you a list of foods and drinks that you should avoid for the first 48 hours after a tooth bonding procedure. These will be liquids and solids that tend to easily stain the resin, such as tea and coffee. Smoking should also be avoided to prevent discoloration.
Always keep in mind that the resin used in tooth bonding is not as strong as your regular teeth. Activities like chewing ice or pens or biting the fingernails can easily chip the resin. Otherwise, care your teeth as normal, with regular brushing and flossing. With the proper care, tooth bonding resin can last for several years without the need for reapplying it.
If the resin does chip or breaks off at any time, contact Dr. Cassara’s office immediately so it can be repaired. In the first few days after the procedure, let our office know right away if you feel sharp edges or if your teeth feel strange when biting down.
Tooth bonding is a simple and pain-free cosmetic solution to chipped or discolored teeth. If you’d like to learn more, call our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cassara.
