Teeth Bonding

Applications of Composite Bonding

• Repair chipped or broken teeth
• Correct teeth size and shape malformations, such as smaller than usual teeth and peg-shaped laterals.

• Diastema closure.
• Correct minor teeth malalignments

• Handel teeth discoloration that could not be addressed using teeth whitening solutions.
• It can be used as a restorative material to fill decayed teeth.

Composite Bonding Vs. Veneers

Dental veneers are prosthetic shells attached to the front surface of the teeth to improve your smile in a way similar to artificial nails. Both composite bonding and dental veneers are effective solutions for correcting aesthetic problems in front teeth. However, they differ in many aspects as follows.

Cosmetic Bonding

Material of fabrication: Composite resin material
Technique for fabrication: Direct application
Number of visits: One
Resistance to staining: Can be easily stained
Strength: Can be easily chipped or broken
Invasiveness: Less invasive
Results: Aesthetically accepted
Durability: 5-7 years
Cost: Affordable

Dental veneers

Material of fabrication: Porcelain
Technique for fabrication: Indirect fabrication at the dental lab
Number of visits: At least two visits: one for preparation and impression, and another for try-on and bonding.
Resistance to staining: Resistant to staining
Strength: Hard material, more resistant to fracture.
Invasiveness: Require more tooth structure removal to create room for seating the veneers.
Results: Unmatched natural-looking appearance
Durability: Can last for 10-20 years
Cost: More expensive

Choosing between composite bonding and dental veneers depends on your preferences, treatment expectations, and financial capability. Book a cosmetic consultation with our experts to choose a suitable solution for you.

Cosmetic Bonding Procedure at Dulwich Dental Office

Dulwich Dental Office is London’s top dental clinic for cosmetic solutions. Our cosmetic smile design expert, Dr. Yazan Douedari, has completed over 10000 composite bonding cases with the highest satisfaction rate in London. Click here to see what our patients say about our cosmetic bonding treatment.
Before proceeding with cosmetic bonding, our dental experts will discuss your aesthetic concerns and treatment expectations. They will then evaluate your eligibility for cosmetic bonding by visually examining your teeth, gums, and bite, using X-rays if necessary.
If any issues arise, such as tooth decay, gum inflammation, or wear from bruxism, these conditions must be resolved before proceeding with cosmetic bonding to ensure its success and durability.
Here is what to expect during your cosmetic bonding visit:

1. Shade selection: Composite resin is available in many shades. A universal shade guide is used to choose the most suitable one to match your natural teeth shade.
2. Tooth preparation: Cosmetic bonding does not require tooth preparation; however, in some cases, the superficial enamel layer may be removed to freshen the tooth surface.
3. Field isolation: Composite material application is sensitive to moisture; this is why complete isolation for the working field is applied using a rubber dam to ensure the field stays dry and uncontaminated.
4. Surface treatment: The tooth surface is then handled to create micro-roughness to increase the surface area for bonding. This can be performed using a strong acid that is left on the tooth for a few minutes and then washed away, or through the more advanced method of air abrasion. Following this step, a bonding layer is applied to serve as a connector for attaching the composite resin to the tooth structure.
5. Composite build-up and curing: Composite resin is applied in small increments. Each increment is sculpted and cured using specialised blue light before applying the following layer.
6. Finishing and polishing: After completing the composite build-up, the surface is polished using specific rubber rotary burs to ensure a clean, smooth surface that resembles the natural tooth as much as possible.

The cosmetic bonding process takes approximately 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the number of teeth involved, after which you can leave with your new, breathtaking smile.

Care and Maintenance of Composite Bonding

After receiving your cosmetic bonding, treat them just like your natural teeth. You can continue brushing regularly and flossing as usual. Use regular toothpaste and avoid whitening toothpastes, as they contain abrasive particles that may scratch the composite bonding surface.
Because they can easily get stained, it is essential to reduce smoking and limit the consumption of food and drinks that may cause staining, such as tea, coffee, and red wine.
Avoid habits that may apply extra force on the composite bonding, such as biting on pens or crushing ice. If you are a bruxer, consult our dental expert to create a customised nightguard.
If you play sports, you can continue your activities, but make sure to wear a protective mouthguard to safeguard your teeth and cosmetic bonding from fractures.
If you notice chipping, fractures, or discoloration of your composite bonding, visit our cosmetic experts to assess your need for a touch-up session.
Maintain regular hygiene and check-up visits to ensure the durability of the cosmetic bonding and the health of your gums and teeth.

Alternatives to Composite Bonding

• Dental veneers: Dental veneers are porcelain shells that are used to cover only the front surface of anterior teeth to camouflage aesthetic defects. They provide an excellent aesthetic, resistant to stains, however, they are more expensive.
• Dental crowns: Dental crowns are complete coverage restorations encircling the tooth crown. They are more invasive because they require extensive tooth structure removal, but they are beneficial in strengthening compromised teeth.
• Orthodontic treatment: If you suffer from tooth malalignments or spacing between teeth, orthodontic treatment may be a suitable solution to perfectly align your teeth without removing tooth structure. Many orthodontic solutions are now available to align your teeth while being discreet, such as Invisalign. Invisalign is an innovative orthodontic solution using a series of clear aligners to handle minor to moderate tooth alignments quickly, discreetly, and comfortably.