Do you have one or two teeth that aren’t quite as beautiful as they could be? If so, you might not want to consider a major cosmetic dentistry procedure such as veneers. Instead, you’d benefit from something smaller and more conservative. That’s where a treatment called direct bonding comes in. With this simple and minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Craig Harder can fix multiple smile flaws at once, giving you a perfect set of pearly whites in record time. To learn more about how direct bonding can rejuvenate your smile, contact Moses Lake Family Dentistry today!
Direct bonding, also known as dental bonding or cosmetic bonding, is a procedure in which composite resin is applied to a tooth to improve its appearance. The material is actually the same one used in tooth-colored fillings. Its color can be customized to blend in with your existing enamel. Because it’s also quite malleable, it can be sculpted to change the size and shape of your tooth as well.
Compared to other treatments such as porcelain veneers, direct bonding can be completed fairly quickly – usually in just one appointment that takes an hour or less. Your results can last for several years, depending on how well you care for your teeth afterward.
Typically, direct bonding is used to make minor aesthetic corrections when other cosmetic treatments wouldn’t be as suitable. Some of the flaws bonding can correct are:
Keep in mind that bonding won’t always work in every situation. At your consultation, we’ll examine your teeth and find the best solution for reaching your smile goals.
Because bonding is a simple procedure, it can often be finished in one visit to our Moses Lake office. Additionally, many patients don’t even require sedation for it.
After choosing the ideal color of composite resin, Dr. Harder will lightly etch the enamel to help the resin form a more secure attachment. The resin is then applied to your tooth and sculpted until it has reached the perfect size and shape. Using a special ultraviolet light, we’ll harden the bonding material into place. Once we finish polishing the tooth, your new smile is complete!
There usually isn’t much recovery time involved with receiving direct bonding. However, the resin will need some time to set, so don’t eat any especially hard foods for a day or so. Also, the resin is more susceptible to staining for the first 48 hours, so avoid coffee, red wine, smoking, tea, berries, etc.
In the long term, take care of your bonded teeth the same way you would your natural pearly whites. Brush and floss every day, and try to avoid biting your nails and other hard items. Of course, that also includes visiting Moses Lake Family Dentistry twice a year for a routine checkup and cleaning!