Dental bonding is one of the most rapid and painless procedures which can be done to repair a slightly chipped tooth.  For example, a front tooth that has been chipped due to an impact can be repaired with dental bonding with excellent and rapid results.

Bonding is the application of a resin or type of plastic, that is natural tooth colored, to repair a chipped, decayed, fractured or discolored tooth or teeth. Unlike veneers, which require a customized mold to be created by a laboratory, bonding can be completed in a single dental visit. The procedure is called bonding because of the resin material bonds to the tooth.

Bonding is one of the least difficult and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. The resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Most of the time, bonding is used in cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It additionally can be applied to fill spaces or gaps between teeth, and it can be used to alter the shape or color of teeth.

How It Is Done

Our dentist will use a shade guide to select the resin color that most closely resembles the shade of color of your teeth. After you and the dentist have selected the shade, the dentist will slightly etch the surface of the enamel to roughen it. The tooth will then be lightly coated with a liquid which assists the bonding material to adhere to it.

After the tooth is prepared, our dentist will apply the tooth-colored, putty-like composite resin. The resin is molded and smoothed until it is in the proper shape. Then the resin material is hardened with ultraviolet light or laser.

When used appropriately and cared for properly, dental bonding should last 5 to 10 years.

Dental bonding is a non-surgical procedure and can often be done in less than an hour.

Call or visit us at Minneapolis Dental to find out more about dental bonding and to see if it will fit your needs.