What Is Dental Bonding?

If you are looking to enhance your smile, then you may want to consider dental bonding. But what is dental bonding? Learn more.

When you're looking for a dentist in New York, NY, you're looking for a clinic that can do it all: general dentistry, emergency dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and more. The Soho Dental Group is here to fulfill all of your dental needs.

Some dental procedures are hard to categorize because they can meet cosmetic, restorative, and preventative needs all at once. Dental bonding is one of those treatments and is more useful than you might realize!

What is dental bonding and how can it improve your smile and your oral health? We're here to tell you.



Read on as we discuss everything there is to know about dental bonding, a procedure that our doctors provide often at Soho Dental Group.

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When you're looking for a dentist in New York, NY, you're looking for a clinic that can do it all: general dentistry, emergency dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and more. The Soho Dental Group is here to fulfill all of your dental needs.

Some dental procedures are hard to categorize because they can meet cosmetic, restorative, and preventative needs all at once. Dental bonding is one of those treatments and is more useful than you might realize!

What is dental bonding and how can it improve your smile and your oral health? We're here to tell you.



Read on as we discuss everything there is to know about dental bonding, a procedure that our doctors provide often at Soho Dental Group.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding (aka tooth bonding) is a common dental procedure used to repair teeth that are chipped, cracked, or broken. You can also request dental bonding to address certain types of discoloration, close gaps between teeth, or lengthen teeth that are shorter than desired.



Dental bonding is unlike dental crowns, which replace the entire tooth. Dental bonding is also not the same as veneers, which cover the entire tooth. Dental bonding consists of a composite resin material that fills in the spaces where, for example, your tooth has cracked, repairing what is otherwise a natural tooth.

Who Should Consider Dental Bonding?

As we mentioned already, dental bonding is ideal for anyone with broken (but otherwise healthy) teeth, discoloration, gaps, or one or two teeth that are noticeably shorter than the rest. The question you may have is, how do teeth become damaged, in the first place?

Some people may discover a crack or chip after an accident that impacted their mouth, like falling or getting hit in the face with a hard object. These days, dentists are also seeing more cracked and chipped teeth due to an increase in stress-related grinding. That's right, something like grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw can lead to the kind of tooth damage that warrants dental bonding. 



Repairing this type of damage restores your smile and can increase your overall confidence. However, dental bonding isn't always used for purely cosmetic reasons. Repairing a damaged tooth with dental bonding can decrease the chances of that initial damage leading to cavities, exposed roots, and decay.

When Are Other Dental Procedures Better?

Dental bonding isn't the right choice for everyone. It's important to remember that dental bonding is used to repair or enhance an otherwise healthy tooth.



If you have lost a tooth or more than half of the tooth has broken off, we may recommend a dental implant, which will replace the entire tooth. This is also the case if the remaining tooth is severely decaying and not healthy enough to repair. If you're dissatisfied with the alignment or appearance of several teeth, we may also explore options such as Invisalign or dental veneers.

What Can You Expect from Your Dental Bonding Experience?

More often than not, dental bonding is a quick procedure that does not require anesthesia. However, we may use anesthesia if we need to make drastic changes to the shape of your natural tooth or if damage has exposed a nerve.

The first step is selecting a composite resin that is as close in color to your natural tooth as possible. The goal is to create a seamless, natural appearance.



Next, we will prepare your tooth for bonding by creating a rough surface that the composite resin and bonding agent can easily adhere to. The resin is then applied and dried with a UV light before we do any additional shaping.

Are There Risks Involved With Dental Bonding?

Unlike dental veneers, dental bonding does not require us to grind down your tooth significantly. That means that if the composite resin sustains damage in the future, your natural tooth will not look that much different than it did before the procedure.

Few people experience an adverse reaction to dental bonding. Some people may have allergies to the materials used, in which case we may have to consider alternative dental services, but this is rare.

FAQs About Bonded Teeth

Before we go, let's take a moment to address any additional questions patients often have. Ultimately, many find that dental bonding is the right procedure for them, but learning more about aftercare and expectations is useful. Read on for some dental bonding FAQs.

Are Bonded Teeth Fragile?

Your natural enamel is one of the strongest elements in your body, though it can sustain wear and tear over time. The composite resin used in dental bonding is strong, but not as strong as your natural tooth. You should avoid chewing on things like ice and exercise caution when consuming hard foods like candy after tooth bonding.

How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?

On average, dental bonding can last about ten years before it requires a little bit of extra care. This can involve touching up the bonded areas or opting for a new dental procedure. By taking care of your bonded tooth the way you should take care of your natural teeth (e.g. regular brushing and flossing), you are unlikely to have noticeable problems for several years.

Do Bonded Teeth Stain?

Composite resin doesn't resist stains as well as natural enamel. You may notice staining if you smoke or drink a lot of staining liquids like coffee or red wine. If you are considering whitening your teeth, we do recommend whitening before bonding, as whitening gels (though not harmful to bonding) may not affect the color of bonding materials the way they do your natural teeth.

Talk to the Soho Dental Group About Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a common, non-invasive procedure that can often be completed in one outpatient appointment. The Soho Dental Group is proud to offer dental bonding and a variety of other services that can improve your smile and your oral health.



Ready to schedule your appointment? Contact us today.