Are your teeth looking a little worn or discolored but you don’t want to undergo complicated and expensive dental procedures? Cosmetic bonding may be a quick and relatively inexpensive solution for your cosmetic dental issues. Dr. Brent Engelberg of AH Smiles, your Arlington Heights, IL dental provider, explains how this relatively inexpensive and increasingly popular cosmetic dentistry treatment can help you have the smile you want.
What is Cosmetic Dental Bonding?
Cosmetic bonding is a dental procedure that covers damage and defects in your teeth. Dr. Engelberg uses composite resin, a soft, plastic-based material, to fill in the damaged areas of your tooth enamel. Composite resin could be thought of being like the spackle used in home repairs but for your teeth. It can be shaped to fill in any chip or indentation, making it ideal for treating an assortment of cosmetic dental issues. Once the resin hardens and bonds to your tooth enamel — hence the name of the procedure — it will not only be as strong as your natural tooth enamel but it will look just like it as well. Dr. Engelberg will choose a composite resin to match the color of your tooth enamel so that the bonded area is never obvious.
Signs You Need Dental Bonding
Chips in teeth, even small ones, can be noticeable when you’re eating or smiling but bonding can be used to fill in these chips. It can also be used to protect roots of teeth that may be exposed due to receding gums. Heightened sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages can occur without that protective layer of gum tissue, making eating painful. Covering the roots with composite resin can decrease this sensitivity while protecting the roots.
Maybe you have one tooth that doesn’t quite look like the others? A tooth can be discolored, twisted, crooked, short or oddly shaped teeth but still perfectly healthy and in good shape otherwise. Bonding material can be used to change the appearance and color of the tooth, giving your smile a more uniform look..
Cosmetic bonding is also a good choice for filling in small gaps between your teeth. Gaps in your teeth can trap food and cause you to feel self-conscious about the way your smile looks. Bonding is a simple and relatively affordable way to close those spaces and make eating easier.
While composite bonding doesn’t have the longevity of veneers, you should be able to wear them for up to 10 years if you care for them properly. This means avoiding hard candy, ice cubes and other hard or sticky food that can crack your composite material.
Cosmetic Bonding in Arlington Heights, IL
Tooth bonding is often covered by dental insurance when used to address tooth damage or a dental health concern, but is also an alternative to the more expensive option of dental veneers. We will discuss all aspects of your dental bonding procedure, including cost, prior to your treatment. We accept most dental insurance and work with patients to estimate their portion of the total cost. Call AH Smiles, your Arlington Heights, IL dentist at (847) 230-9703 or schedule online for your consultation. Why not take advantage of this versatile cosmetic dentistry treatment to brighten your smile?