Composite Bonding on Crooked Teeth – How does it work?

Composite Bonding on Crooked Teeth – How does it work?

4th April 2022

Composite bonding or cosmetic bonding can cost up to £300 per tooth. Before you spend that money, take five minutes to understand what composite bonding is about.

You will learn

• Whether you should get composite bonding
• The detailed procedure of composite bonding
• Composite bonding aftercare
• Pros and cons of composite bonding
• Cost of composite bonding

Who should get Composite Bonding?

Composite bonding is a fairly simple and quick procedure. You can finish the procedure in a single visit within 30-60 minutes. It is a cheaper cosmetic dentistry process than veneers or CEREC crowns. You don’t even require local anaesthesia.

Hence, it is perfect for people who want to enhance the appearance of their smile and gain some extra confidence. However, if they have an improper bite like an overbite or an overjet, composite bonding will not be able to fix that. You should opt for the types of braces, instead.

How does composite bonding fix crooked teeth?

Your dentist will use a bond to fill the gaps between your teeth and even out the length of your teeth. The bond is a composite resin.

Your dental expert will ensure that the resin matches with the surrounding teeth in colour to create a natural appearance.

The Nine-Step Process of Composite Bonding

The bonding process varies as per the patient’s case. Some steps might be omitted or modified.

• First, your dentist will use a shade guide to match the shade of your tooth with the bonding colour. To create a natural look, they might use a separate composite for different layers and/or portions of the tooth.

We recommend that you don’t wear any bright coloured clothes, accessories, or makeup during this process.

• Second, your dentist will clean your teeth. This ensures a strong bond.
• Third, your dentist might slightly trim your teeth.
• Fourth, your teeth’s exposed surfaces will be etched with an acidic tooth conditioner. The gel will be placed for about 15 seconds where the bonding is to be placed.

You should close your eyes while the etchant is being washed off. You might even get a sour or bitter taste from the gel. Ensure that you keep your mouth wide open so that saliva doesn’t contaminate the etched tooth’s surface.

• Fifth, the dentist will use an applicator to apply the bonding agents to your tooth.
• Sixth, a curing light will shine on the bonding. The blue light causes the bonding agent to harden.
• Some dentists might skip the fourth step. The bonding agent might be directly applied and set with the curing light without any etching. This happens when the tooth conditioner is incorporated into the bonding agent.
• Seventh, the dentist might add additional layers. This happens if the initial amount of composite is not yet complete. This is to ensure that the composite does not become too thick. Hence, it is applied in multiple thin layers.
• Eighth, the dentist will conduct a bite check using carbon paper to ensure the bonding doesn’t affect your jaw’s motion.
• In the final step, the dentist will polish the bonding, and you are done.

Aftercare for Composite Bonding

To ensure that your bonded teeth have a good and healthy life, you need to practice some care. For the first two days after the procedure, do not consume any tea, coffee, or tobacco. Otherwise, the bonding might stain.

Brush twice a day and floss daily. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash and do not consume any food or liquid till 30 minutes after.

Avoid any hard food or candy for a while or you might risk breaking the bonding. Avoid biting your nails as well. Schedule dental cleanings every six months with your dentist.

Drink water every time after you eat. This ensures your mouth is free of food particles and bacteria which can harm your bonding. If your bonding feels sharp in your mouth or you detect rough edges, contact a dentist immediately.

Pros of Composite Bonding

• If you are scared of needles, composite bonding is right for you. There is no anaesthetic or any other kinds of injections administered during the process.
• Composite resin gives you a natural look. Multiple layers are used to match the exact shade of your teeth.
• It is not only a short process but it is also minimally invasive. Porcelain Veneers and crowns require a lot of tooth enamel to be removed, however, with composite bonding little or no trimming is needed.
• In composite bonding, no adjoining teeth are damaged. No reinforcements or alterations of adjoining teeth are required.

Cons of Composite Bonding

• Composite bonding isn’t as durable as veneers. Composite resin can last from 5 to 10 years depending on how you take care of it. However, porcelain is used for veneers which is a more durable material. Even crowns last longer.
• Veneers are famous for being stain-resistant. The same can’t be said about composite bonding. Hence, you have to maintain a good (sugar and acid-free) diet and practice dental hygiene to keep your bonding stain-free.
• You have to make a conscious effort to avoid anything that might chip or damage the tooth. Trauma can easily damage composite bonding.

Composite Bonding on Crooked Teeth – How much does it cost?

Dental bonding is really affordable compared to other dental treatments. Composite bonding fees range in the UK from £200/tooth to £500 depending on the experience and quality of the work

The price may vary depending on the infrastructure, materials, and the experience of the dentist. At Natural Smiles, we will give you cost-effective treatment. Low-costs but high quality and service.

A study showed that 81% of people believe that their teeth look unattractive in photographs. 28% didn’t smile when taking pictures on social media. We don’t want you to fall into those statistics. At Natural Smiles, we will ensure that you leave with a smile that you love with the help of some composite resin.