Dental bonding is a procedure where your dentist applies a tooth-colored composite resin to one or more of your teeth to repair damage and create a natural look. Curious about how long dental bonding lasts? Our Wetaskiwin dentists reveal the answer.
What is dental bonding?
Dental bonding is a restorative procedure that can help change the appearance of a patient's smile. During the dental bonding process, your dentist will apply tooth-coloured composite resin to your tooth surfaces, effectively repairing chips, decay, fractures, or discolouration.
How long does dental bonding last?
The effects of dental bonding typically last for 4 to 8 years, and potentially longer, depending on a few factors:
- How well you care for your teeth (by maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine including daily brushing and flossing)
- Which areas of your mouth are bonded
- Whether you attend your regularly scheduled dental hygiene appointments
- Your dietary choices
How long your dental bonding lasts is mostly up to how well you care for your teeth. To help your dental bonding last longer, avoid acidic or sugary foods that can wear on your teeth. When you do enjoy fruit or a sweet treat, be sure to brush and floss your teeth soon after so plaque or bacteria does not have the chance to grow.
You should also avoid chewing ice, hard candy, grinding your teeth or biting down too hard, all of which can chip the bonding material.
And of course, maintaining a consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine is of utmost importance. The healthier the natural tooth material around the bonding material remains, the longer the restoration will last.
What are the benefits of dental bonding?
If you choose dental bonding to improve the appearance of your smile, you may experience the following benefits:
Changes appearance of teeth: Dental bonding can help adjust the colour and shape of your teeth for a symmetrical, cohesive look.
Non-invasive: As far as cosmetic treatments go, dental bonding is relatively non-invasive and doesn't require any recovery time
Quick treatment: We can usually perform the procedure in just one visit.
Cost-effective: Dental bonding is generally considered to be a cost-effective alternative to more extensive cosmetic dental procedures such as crowns, bridges, and veneers.
Long-lasting: As long as you care for your smile properly, you can expect the effects of dental bonding to last for 4 to 8 years, or longer in some cases.
What does dental bonding cost?
Patients who come to us for dental bonding procedures are often concerned about cost. Your specific cost will depend on a few factors:
- The number of teeth being repaired
- Scope of work, location and size of the areas of the mouth being bonded
- Your location – costs may change depending on which city and dental practice performs the procedure
- How much of the procedure is covered by insurance (this may depend on whether your issue is primarily structural or cosmetic)