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Dental Bonding- A Cheaper Alternative To Improve Teeth |
Dental bonding is used to repair or hide a worn, cracked, chipped, discolored, or decayed tooth. It is also used to repair misaligned teeth, remove gaps between teeth, or replace silver amalgam fillings.
As part of aesthetics improvement, teeth bonding can help whiten stained teeth, lengthen chipped or short teeth, or fill any significant gaps between teeth. Tooth bonding is a much better method to improve the appearance of grayish or brownish tinged teeth than traditional tooth whitening through use of bleaching agents.
Dental bonding is comparatively a cheaper alternative to other cosmetic dental procedures. In the dental bonding process, the affected tooth is first prepared so that the bonding material can be attached to it. Tooth preparation entails that the affected tooth be etched with a mildly acidic solution. This helps to make the surface of the tooth rough.
Etching with the acid creates tiny crevices on the surface of the tooth. After etching the affected tooth, a composite plastic resin in the form of putty is applied over the affected tooth. The color of the resin is chosen to match with the specific shade of the enamel coating over teeth. The putty enters the crevices on the surface of the tooth and adheres to the tooth surface.
The putty is then hardened by shining a high intensity ultra violet light over it, which helps to cure the resin. Thereafter, the hardened resin over the surface of the tooth is given the requisite contour and polish to add luster to the surrounding teeth.
The procedure is completed in a single visit to a dental clinic without any pain felt by the patient.
The advantage of dental bonding lies in the improvement in aesthetics. Remaining tooth structures are provided support by dental bonding. Dental bonding helps prevent breaking of a tooth and provides protection to the tooth from extreme variations in temperature. Dental bonding is better because more than one tooth can be bonded in a single visit.
Composite plastic resin based dental bonds hold for five to seven years. It cannot hold for a lifetime as it undergoes wearing. Two main factors associated with the life of a dental bond are the type and strength of the bond and the oral habits of the individual concerned. The life of the dental bond becomes less if the individual is given to biting pens or fingernails or if ice is chewed.
The dental bond surface can undergo staining by drinking coffee or tea or other food items. The shade of the dental bonded tooth may change with time and dentists sometimes coat the composite surface with a clear plastic to prevent color change.
Oral hygiene, dental cleanings performed at a clinic and good oral habits are mandatory to maintain the health and aesthetics of bonded teeth. |