Alternative Solutions to Dental Bonding

Home tooth bonding and having a beautiful, straight, white smile is something most people will tell you that they want. It’s hard not to feel under pressure to have the perfect smile with gorgeous pictures of celebrities and even selfies all over our timelines every day. Chips, cracks, and other issues in the teeth can stop somebody from smiling, knock their confidence, and lower their self esteem significantly. Many people with imperfect smiles wouldn’t be caught out smiling with their teeth!

However, there are a number of dental treatments that could improve the smile and give a patient back their confidence. Dental treatments aren't cheap, and many of them require surgery and are quite invasive. One of the least invasive dental treatments that can help with issues like discoloration, cracks, chips, and other imperfections is dental bonding.

Dental bonding at home is becoming a more popular treatment, as it is less invasive and requires less work than treatments like implants and the different veneer types (see more on how dental bonding works). This treatment involves the dentist applying a tooth-colored composite material to one or more of the teeth to repair the damage and make them look white and perfect again. This is usually a more cost effective solution than veneers and crowns, too, although it can still set you back a few hundred pounds per bonded tooth depending on where you go for treatment. Then, other treatments may be required on top of bonding for the best result. Many people end up with a treatment plan including invisalign braces to straighten teeth, whitening, and then home teeth bonding for a straight, white, chip-free smile. These things aren't always necessary, but they may be encouraged for the best result, and in these cases, treatment will cost more and take longer.

Here, we’ll talk more about dental bonding, who it is for, and whether there are any other options available.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a procedure where the dentist applies composite to each tooth to be treated in order to cover cracks, chips, discoloration, and potentially other issues. It can be applied to just one tooth, or multiple teeth depending on the needs of the patient. This procedure tends to be more simple and less painful than other dental treatments, which is why it is performed without anesthesia. It doesn’t require multiple trips to the dentist either, so many people like this option as they can have the smile they have always wanted in just one visit after the consultation has taken place. In just a few hours, a brand new smile can be revealed that increases confidence and boosts self esteem.

The Procedure

To begin with, your dentist will ensure they have chosen the best shade for the teeth by comparing various resin shades and ensuring it matches the color of your teeth closely. In some cases, whitening will be performed first if you require a brighter white finish. Your dentist will roughen the surface of the tooth, and then apply a bonding agent that allows the material to stick to the tooth. The composite resin is then applied over the liquid, the tooth is moulded and shaped, and then it is all hardened with an ultraviolet light. Your dentist can continue to shape the tooth after the resin has hardened if they need to. Dental bonding tends to give an extremely natural finish, unlike veneers where the result can sometimes be too uniformed and blocky.

Bear in mind that if invisalign braces and whitening is required, then multiple trips to the dentist over a period of months will be needed to ensure that the teeth are aligning as they should be before the treatment can take place. It all depends on a patient’s personal treatment plan and the results required.

When is Dental Bonding Needed?

Dental bonding is a good choice for those who have imperfections and defects in their teeth that they would like to cover up and fix without extensive, complicated surgery and procedures requiring anaesthetic. For instance, some people with cracked and discolored teeth opt for dental bonding to give a more uniformed, perfect appearance. However, it can also be used for those who would like to close small gaps between their teeth. This is a treatment that can be used for those who simply want to tweak and perfect the teeth that they have. It is not suitable for those who want a complete smile makeover and have missing teeth to replace.

Tooth bonding can increase the size of the tooth, so if you have a tooth that is shorter than the rest and looks odd, bonding can be used. If you choose to go ahead with bonding, then you will need to make sure you follow the aftercare instructions to the letter to keep your teeth looking bright, straight, and healthy. You will need to:

• #1: Brush with a clean toothbrush, use mouthwash and floss twice daily
• #2: Avoid hard food and sweets
• #3: Stop biting your nails
• #4: Avoid tea, coffee, and tobacco for two days after the procedure to avoid stains and then avoid as much as possible afterwards
• #5: Schedule regular dental cleanings, about once every 6 months

Taking good care of your teeth following the procedure is key, as dental bonding is not as durable as other treatments.

What Are The Disadvantages of Dental Bonding?

There are advantages to bonding. It’s a fast procedure and doesn’t require any downtime, unlike other cosmetic dental procedures designed to improve the smile. Tooth bonding usually takes between 30-60 minutes but in some cases it may be longer depending on the extent of the procedure you are having done.

There are no major risks to having the treatment done, either, but of course there are some disadvantages that many find off putting. For instance, the teeth can be easy to stain, and they are not as durable as say, veneers. Eating certain foods may need to be limited, as they could potentially break the composite and require further treatment. The biggest downside to this procedure is that they can damage easily and that you must treat your teeth very carefully if you choose to have dental bonding. Bonding is not as strong as your natural teeth, and it’s important to bear that in mind. If you tend to eat ice, chew on pens or pencils, eat hard boiled sweets, bite your fingernails, or do anything similar, it’s totally possible that the material will chip off or separate from your teeth. Even chewing gum could cause issues with your bonding. Plus, if you smoke or drink a lot of tea/coffee, you may find that the material stains easily. Bonding is not as stain resistant as your actual teeth. You may also need to replace the bonding every 5-10 years, which can be annoying and costly. In fact, the resin used could chip off before this time and you may find that you only get to enjoy the results for up to 2 years, requiring more trips to the dentist and more money.

Dental bonding can produce good results but these results are limited. You won’t be able to cover up any missing teeth and ultimately, the results could be shortlived.

Are There any Non Surgical Options?

A healthy smile can be a huge confidence booster, and while bonding is a popular choice as it is less invasive than other options, you definitely have more options to consider to get rid of stained teeth, cracked teeth, a broken tooth, or gaps in teeth. Instasmile’s clip on veneers are a quick, pain-free option that can be done from your very own home. Simply clip them on and enjoy a bright, white, straight smile that looks natural - the perfer whiter teeth. You can use them for selfies, events, and when you leave the house to boost your confidence. No dentist visits are required and you can improve your smile in a matter of seconds once you have received your veneers. They are a very cost-effective option, so it could be great for those who are saving up for more serious treatment but want to get their confidence back now, or simply those who need the most affordable option out there.

The benefits of Instasmile clip on veneers include:

• A removable solution to take in and out when you want to
• Pick your own shade to match your teeth or go as white as possible
• Pick veneers to cover the top teeth, bottom teeth, or both
• Cover missing teeth, broken teeth, and chipped teeth
• No dentist appointments, just make your impression at home so that you can get your bespoke set of clip on veneers made to suit you
• No surgical procedures or anesthetic required

Although clip on veneers are a more cost effective option to just about any dental treatment, you can even spread the cost with this if needs be. This instant solution is the fastest, most affordable way to improve your smile and boost your confidence.