In the world of dental veneers and oral implants, it can be easy to overlook simpler methods that are available for restoring your smile to its former glory.
Indeed, when it comes to dental veneers as a treatment, these nifty coverings find their origins in a much earlier cosmetic treatment; bonding.
A safe and effective procedure that was developed some 50 years ago, bonding has been used to restore damaged teeth and was subsequently also been used to improve the appearance of a patient’s smile. Like veneers, the procedure used a bonding resin to attach a composite covering to the tooth, using light to cure the surface and allow the composite to harden. While this is now commonplace in cosmetic dental clinics, in the past you would need to attend an appointment with a specialist practitioner to ensure that this procedure was performed correctly.
At Harley Street Dental, we are proud to carry on the tradition of composite bonding in Harley Street and can ensure that all bonding carried out by our team will be both restorative and cosmetically striking. Improving on the old fashioned techniques, we can use bonding as part of a smile makeover or to simply build up a damaged tooth, allowing you to feel confident with your smile.
Have some questions about composite bonding in Harley Street? Your 5 FAQs about bonding answered by our team.
Does it hurt?
Like dental veneers, composite bonding in Harley Street should not be uncomfortable.
As our team will sand down a thin layer of your enamel to apply the bonding agent, the inner parts of your tooth will be untouched, meaning you won’t even need a numbing injection!
Can be used to cover decay?
Yes, it can.
In fact, bonding was often used in lieu of metal fillings in past dental practices to cover decay which had occurred at the front of the mouth.
How long does the bonding last?
This will depend on your overall level of dental hygiene and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking.
Similar to white fillings, bonding procedures have an average lifespan of between 3- 10 years. Our team will always ensure that these composite coverings are intact during routine check-ups, and will aim to replace them if they aren’t. Simple! However, the composite used in bonding is softer than the porcelain used in veneers, so bonded teeth are more prone to chips and cracks. Luckily, such damage is easily repaired by our expert cosmetic team at Harley Street.
Can it close gaps?
Bonding can be used to cover gaps between teeth but in a similar way to dental veneers, our team will need to assess suitability.
If your gap is too large, we may suggest either orthodontic braces or dental implants.
Who is suited for bonding?
Provided that you have good overall oral hygiene and you have an ailment which is suited to bonding, then our team will happily offer you bonding as a way to either restore your teeth or enhance your smile.