How Long Does It Take for Dental Bonding to Set?

Thanks to technological advancements in dentistry, you can choose your preferred treatment option from a vast pool of treatment plans. Advancements in cosmetic dentistry particularly have witnessed the era of dental bonding–an option that is slowly but steadily replacing veneers. Keep reading to learn more about dental bonding near you and when you will need it.

What Is Teeth Bonding? Why Should You Get Teeth Bonding?

Teeth bonding is a procedure that involves your dentist applying a tooth-colored resin material to your teeth. Afterward, they harden it using a special light that secures the material to your teeth. The dental bonding process aims at restoring or improving your smile.

People go in for teeth bonding to:

• Repair decayed teeth (cavities are filled with composite resins)
• Fix cracked or chipped teeth
• Fix discolored teeth
• Close up teeth gaps
• Make teeth look longer
• Change the teeth shape
• Shield a part of the tooth’s root that is left exposed after gum recession
• Get an alternative to amalgam fillings

Types of Dental Bonding

Primarily, there are two categories of dental bonding:

• Direct Dental Bonding: This dental bonding procedure quickly fixes decayed or chipped teeth in just a single office visit. Direct dental bonds restore your natural teeth’ shape, look, color, and function. The dentist uses tooth-colored composite resins and a special adhesive during this procedure.
• Indirect Dental Bonding: This is a restorative treatment that aims at restoring decayed or broken teeth. For the indirect dental bonding, you will require two visits. During your first appointment, the dentist makes a mold .of the decaying or damaged tooth then sends it to a dental laboratory.

After receiving the mold, the laboratory technicians create an indirect dental inlay or filling. Both comprise composite resin materials and are very strong and durable as lab technicians use high heat to cure the restorations. During your second visit, the dentist will bond the inlay or filling to your tooth.

Before and After Dental Bonding

Preparing for Teeth Bonding

The dental bonding procedure doesn’t require any special preparation. However, before booking yourself in, it is essential to consult with your dentist to determine if it is the best treatment plan for your teeth condition. This is because bonding may fail if you have severe decay or tooth damage. In such cases, you might want to opt for a crown or veneer instead.

In most cases, you may not need anesthesia during dental bonding in Oakland, CA, unless the bonding is used to fill decayed teeth. In such a scenario, your dentist uses a shade guide to pick a composite resin color that bears a close resemblance to your natural tooth color.

The Bonding Process

The dentist starts by roughening the tooth surface before applying a conditioning liquid. These steps are necessary for helping adhere the bonding material to your tooth. Next, your dentist applies the tooth-colored, putty-like resin and proceeds to mold and smooth it to the preferred shape. Afterward, they use a laser or bright light to harden the material. Upon hardening of the material, the dentist further trims and shapes it and polishes it to achieve the shine of the surrounding tooth surface.

Caring for Bonded Teeth

Unlike other dental restorations, bonded teeth are more susceptible to stains and chips. For this reason, there is a need for additional oral care techniques, including:

• Quitting smoking as the habit increases your risk of gum disease and oral cancer
• Wearing a protective night guard for those with bruxism
• Avoiding nail biting
• Cutting down on coffee, tea, wine, and dark fruits that could discolor or stain your teeth

How Long Does Setting Take?

Dental bonding typically takes around 30–60 minutes per tooth to complete. Because the process has some limitations, dentists mostly recommend it for minor cosmetic modifications and short-term correction of cosmetic blemishes. They also recommend it for correcting teeth in low bite pressure zones such as the front teeth. Your dentist will help you decide on the best approach for you.

Get Dental Bonding Near You

If you are looking for a dental practice that offers the dental bonding procedure, visit us at Franklin Dental Care. For years, we have been offering dental bonding in Oakland, CA, and the neighboring communities. Our team .is looking forward to meeting you.