What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a versatile and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure offered by your Seattle dentist at Dental Specialties Northwest. It involves the application of a tooth-colored composite resin to repair or improve the appearance of a tooth. This procedure can be used to fix a variety of dental issues such as chipped or cracked teeth, discolored teeth, gaps between teeth, and even to change the shape or length of a tooth. Dental bonding is a popular choice because it’s minimally invasive, requires little to no removal of enamel, and can usually be completed in a single visit.
The Dental Bonding Treatment Process
The dental bonding process is straightforward and typically completed in one visit, making it an efficient solution for improving your smile.
Preparation
During the preparation stage, Dr. Sweeney will select a composite resin color that closely matches the shade of your natural teeth. This ensures the bonded tooth blends seamlessly with the rest of your smile. There’s minimal preparation needed for bonding. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth.
Bonding Application
Next, Dr. Sweeney will roughen the surface of the tooth and apply a conditioning liquid. These steps help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored, putty-like resin is then applied, molded, and smoothed to the desired shape.
Hardening and Polishing
Once the resin has been shaped, Dr. Sweeney will use a special light to harden or “cure” the material. After the material is hard, he will further trim and shape it, then polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.
