Dental Bonding Candidates

Just as there is no single ideal smile, there is no single treatment plan that will produce the ideal smile. In cosmetic dentistry, one size most definitely does not fit all.

At our practice in Bloomington, cosmetic dentist Jay W. Chrisman, D.D.S., and his colleague David D. Wyse, D.D.S., offer a diverse range of cosmetic dentistry options to ensure that all of the needs and goals of their patients can be effectively met. These treatments are all highly customizable and can be combined, if necessary, into a more comprehensive smile makeover plan. Among the most versatile of these treatments is dental bonding, a simple, cost-effective way to restore the appearance of cosmetically flawed teeth.

Is dental bonding right for you? The following information may help to answer that question; however, the only sure way to find out is to schedule a consultation at our Bloomington cosmetic dentistry practice.

What Is Dental Bonding?

At our practice in Bloomington, dental bonding is used to conceal aesthetic imperfections in teeth, including natural discoloration, stains, cracks, chips, and flaws in shape and size. Dental bonding involves the application of a composite resin material, carefully customized to match the color of surrounding natural teeth, to the front surfaces of the affected teeth in a process that could almost be described as painting. Once this dental bonding material has been applied, it is shaped and molded, and then exposed to a curing light that causes it to harden. After it has hardened, the shape and texture are further refined and the teeth are polished to a beautiful sheen. The results are natural looking and quite durable with proper maintenance.

Candidacy for the Bonding Procedure

Nearly anyone with cosmetically flawed front teeth is a suitable candidate for dental bonding. Candidates should be in decent-to-good oral health, as the bonding procedure is primarily cosmetic in nature; although the composite resin material can strengthen damaged teeth, it will not improve the health of teeth affected by decay or serious trauma. Patients should have realistic expectations of the results of dental bonding and be willing to avoid chewing on pen caps, ice, fingernails, and other extremely hard objects.

Dental bonding is often ideal for patients who want to achieve a dramatic smile transformation immediately. Bonding requires no removal of the natural tooth enamel, making it ideal for those who prefer a reversible cosmetic dentistry option. It is also less expensive than porcelain veneers, the closest alternative in terms of purpose to dental bonding.

Alternatives to Dental Bonding

There are a number of excellent alternatives to dental bonding at our cosmetic dentistry practice in Bloomington. Porcelain veneers are the cornerstone of many of the most stunning and dramatic smile makeovers. While our patients achieve consistently natural-looking results with dental bonding, porcelain is the only dental material that shares light-reflecting properties with natural tooth enamel, allowing some light to pass through, rather than reflect off, its surface. Porcelain veneers are also more durable and stain resistant than dental bonding; however, this does not mean that it is the superior treatment necessarily. In order to affix veneers to the front surfaces of teeth, some of the patient’s natural tooth enamel must first be removed; therefore, treatment with veneers is not reversible. Veneers are also more expensive than dental bonding, making the latter option more attractive to some patients.

In some cases, in-office teeth whitening may be preferable to both dental bonding and porcelain veneers. For patients whose teeth are healthy and intact, but simply suffer from superficial discoloration, teeth whitening produces excellent results without any structural alteration of the teeth.

To learn more about the cosmetic dentistry options, including dental bonding, available at our Bloomington practice, contact Chrisman & Wyse today.