Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic bonding repairs a chipped, worn, gappy or discolored tooth with tooth-colored resin, shaped by hand and hardened with a light, in a single visit. Little or no enamel is removed. At Pearl32 Dentistry and Wellness in Laguna Hills we use it for small changes to one or a few teeth, and we say plainly when a veneer or aligners would serve you better.

The short answer

If the problem is a small chip, a rough or worn edge, a narrow gap or one tooth that is a shade darker, bonding fixes it in about an hour with no drilling in most cases. If you want to change the color or shape of your whole smile, or the edges keep breaking, bonding will not hold up and porcelain veneers are the honest recommendation.

What bonding fixes well

Chipped corners on front teeth. Worn or uneven biting edges. Small gaps between teeth. A tooth that is shorter than its neighbor. Isolated white or brown spots on the enamel. Exposed root surfaces near the gum that are sensitive or look yellow. Each of these is a small, local change, which is where resin does its work.

How the visit goes at our Laguna Hills office

We choose the resin shade against your tooth in daylight-balanced light, before the tooth dries out and looks lighter than it is. The surface is cleaned and lightly etched with a mild gel, then a bonding agent is brushed on. The resin goes on in thin layers, each shaped and set with a curing light. Once the form is right we adjust the bite, then polish it to match the shine of the enamel around it. One tooth takes 30 to 60 minutes. You eat normally the same day.

What bonding will not do

It will not change the color of a smile evenly across many teeth, because each resin build is matched to the tooth beneath it. It will not survive heavy grinding without a night guard. It will not stay as bright as the day it was placed, because polished resin picks up stain at the margins over time. And whitening gel does not lighten it, so if you plan to whiten, we do that first and bond afterwards.

Looking after bonded teeth

Brush and floss as normal. Avoid biting nails, pens and ice with bonded front teeth. Come in for a polish every year or two, which lifts most staining and lets us catch a chip while it is still small. A small chip in resin is repaired in the chair, which is one advantage resin has over porcelain.

Cost

Bonding is quoted per tooth, itemized and in writing, after we have looked at the tooth. It costs less per tooth than a veneer and is done in one visit. Some dental plans contribute toward bonding when it repairs a broken tooth; bonding done purely for appearance is usually not covered. We check your plan before you decide. Third party financing is available through the plans on our financing page, and the practice is not the creditor.

Bonding, veneers or aligners

For one or two teeth, bonding is the smallest step. For several teeth, or a lasting change of color, veneers last longer. For a gap or crowding that is really a position problem, clear aligners move the teeth instead of covering them. Our veneers vs bonding page weighs the first two in detail, and the wider picture is on our cosmetic dentistry page.

Questions people ask about cosmetic bonding

How long does dental bonding last?

Four to eight years is typical before resin needs refreshing or replacing, sometimes longer on a tooth that takes little bite force. Biting nails, pens or ice shortens that. A polish every year or two keeps the margins from staining and lets us catch a chip early.

Does bonding hurt?

Usually not. Most bonding needs no drilling, so most people have it done without an injection. If a chip has left the tooth sensitive, or a small amount of shaping is needed, we numb the area first. Afterwards the tooth may feel slightly odd for a day while you get used to the new shape.

Can bonding close a gap between my front teeth?

Yes, when the gap is narrow. Resin is added to the sides of the two teeth so they meet or nearly meet. If the gap is wide, the teeth end up looking too broad, and clear aligners or veneers give a better result. We measure the gap and tell you which it is.

Does bonding stain?

Slowly, yes. Resin is polished rather than glazed, so coffee, tea, red wine and smoking discolor it over time, mostly at the edges. A professional polish brings most of it back. Whitening does not lighten resin, so we whiten first if you want a brighter shade, then match the bonding to it.

How is bonding different from a veneer?

Bonding is resin sculpted straight onto the tooth in one visit with little or no enamel removed, and it can be reshaped or taken off later. A veneer is porcelain made outside the mouth and bonded on after a thin layer of enamel is removed, which is permanent. Veneers last longer and resist stain better. Our comparison page sets the two side by side.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. What is right for you can only be decided after an examination.