Composite Bonding: What does it involve and why might you need it?

Composite bonding is an alternative treatment to veneers and gives patients a fresh and complete smile by fixing any cracks and plugging any gaps in their teeth.

While veneers are fixed over the top of the teeth, requiring a layer of the tooth to be stripped away in preparation for the new surface, composite bonding is minimally invasive and simply rectifies any issues with the structure and presentation of your teeth.

As one of the most popular treatments at our practice, composite bonding in Essex is a go-to for patients seeking a straighter smile after injury, disease, a genetic predisposition to gaps and misaligned teeth, and small chips.

But what does the process involve – and is it something that you need?

Before we dive into the process of preparing for and checking in for your composite bonding appointment, let’s first understand a little more about who the treatment is for and why they might need it…

Composite bonding involves a resin being applied to an imperfect tooth, to fix any cracks, plug any gaps in the teeth, and/or improve the aesthetic and colouring of the teeth.

What this means is that composite bonding is a treatment option for patients suffering from aesthetic or structural issues with their teeth. As a less invasive alternative to veneers, composite bonding is designed for minor dental issues – using your natural tooth as a foundation and base for the treatment.

In order to be eligible for composite bonding, you must have a good approach and routine for dental hygiene, and you must have enough of the tooth available to become the foundation for the bonding resin.

We’ve already talked about how composite bonding involves a resin being fixed to the teeth and blended into the natural tooth, to create a new surface and to fill any cracks, gaps, or chips.

But what does this process involve from a patient’s point of view?

Before your composite bonding treatment, you will engage in a consultation session with your dentist – but contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t require extra time and multiple sessions. In fact, we can complete the consultation and treatment itself in the same session, maximising the efficiency of your appointment and giving you the smile you deserve in record time.

In order to enable the bonding resin to be fixed to the tooth, your dentist will slightly roughen the surface of the tooth to allow the resin to stick, before applying the resin and moulding it into the required shape. A curing light is then used to harden the resin in place before the shape is refined and polished to integrate seamlessly into the rest of the tooth.

From there, composite bonding and the success of the treatment is all up to you – with good oral hygiene and thorough aftercare recommended to maximise the longevity of your results.

We hope this helps you to understand the process of composite bonding and whether or not it’s right for you! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Bluebell Dentistry & Aesthetics for more information.