What bonding is
Bonding applies tooth-colored composite resin directly to a tooth, shapes it by hand, and hardens it with a curing light. It is the same material used for tooth-colored fillings, used here to change the shape of a tooth rather than to repair decay.
It is a good fit for minor cosmetic problems: chipped or rough edges, small gaps between front teeth, an isolated patch of discoloration, or a tooth that is smaller or a different shape from its neighbor. It can also cover a root surface exposed by gum recession, where that surface has become sensitive.
Bonding is usually done in one visit, with no impressions and no laboratory work. The appointment typically follows the same steps:
- Shade matching. A composite shade is chosen to match the surrounding teeth. If you want your teeth whiter, this is the moment to say so — whitening should come first.
- Preparing the surface. The enamel is lightly roughened and a conditioning liquid applied so the resin can bond to it. Little or no tooth is removed.
- Building and shaping. The resin is applied in thin layers, sculpted to shape, and each layer hardened with a curing light.
- Finishing. The bonding is trimmed, the bite checked, and the surface polished to a gloss that matches natural enamel.
Many people have one or two teeth bonded in a single appointment, and it rarely needs anesthetic unless decay is being removed at the same time. You can eat and drink normally once you leave.
Its advantages, and its limits
Bonding often needs little or no removal of natural tooth, which means it is frequently reversible — a significant difference from porcelain veneers. It is also typically the least expensive cosmetic option, and it is repairable: if it chips, more composite can usually be added rather than starting again.
Composite is softer than porcelain, though. It stains over time — coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco all dull it — and it does not respond to whitening, so the shade it is set at is the shade it stays. Its edges can chip under heavy biting, and people who grind their teeth may be advised to wear a night guard to protect it.
For a single chip or a small gap it is an excellent answer. For reshaping a whole smile, or for teeth that are heavily discolored, porcelain veneers hold color and gloss far longer. Where teeth are crooked rather than misshapen, clear aligners may be the better starting point. Bonding also needs healthy teeth and gums to attach to, so any decay or gum disease is treated first.
Bonded teeth are cleaned exactly like the rest: brush twice a day, clean between the teeth, and keep up regular cleanings and exams, where the bonding can be checked and polished.
The habits that shorten its life are the ones that load the edge of a front tooth — biting nails, chewing pens or ice, opening packaging with your teeth. Staining drinks are the other factor; rinsing with water afterward helps. If a piece does chip or a sharp edge appears, it can usually be smoothed or repaired at a short visit.
How long bonding lasts varies with where it is, your bite and your habits. Commonly it lasts several years before it needs polishing, repairing or replacing. Cost depends on how many teeth and how much material, so ask for an estimate — see financial options for how payment works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does bonding last?
Commonly several years, depending on where the bonding is, your bite and your staining habits. Composite can be polished to refresh it, and repaired by adding more material if it chips.
Does bonding need anesthetic?
Often not, when no decay is being removed and the work is confined to the enamel surface. If the tooth needs shaping close to the nerve, or a cavity is being filled at the same time, local anesthetic is used.
Bonding or veneers?
Bonding is usually cheaper, quicker and more conservative. Porcelain veneers last longer and resist staining better. For a single chip or small gap, bonding is often the better answer; for reshaping several teeth, veneers often are.
Can bonded teeth be whitened?
No. Composite does not respond to whitening. If you want whiter teeth, whiten first and have the bonding matched to the new shade afterward.
Does bonding damage the tooth?
Usually very little. The enamel surface is lightly roughened so the resin can grip, but little or no tooth structure needs to be removed, which is why bonding can often be reversed or redone.
How do I look after bonded teeth?
Brush and floss as normal, keep up regular cleanings, and avoid biting nails, pens or ice with bonded teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco stain composite over time, so rinsing with water after them helps.
