Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a versatile procedure. People with tooth discolorations, cavities, small gaps, and chips may all be potential candidates. It may be used for both cosmetic and structural purposes, requires no surgery, and is both painless and relatively simple.

The process of dental bonding involves the use of a resin composite--a strong, plastic-like material available in a number of shades to match patients' teeth. First, your dentist makes a series of very small scratches on the surfaces of any teeth to be bonded. She or he then applies a thin coating of the resin and cures (hardens) it with the use of an intense light.

The resin is applied in thin layers, with each layer being allowed to cure before the next is applied. Once all the layers have been laid down, your dentist molds the resin to your tooth and sculpts it to the desired shape. The resin may cover the front of your entire tooth, or, if you have only a small chip, it may only fill in a small area.

Because dental bonding material is available in an array of shades, it can also be used to correct stains on your teeth. For filling cavities, it is often preferable to metal fillings; unlike metal, bonding compound expands and contracts along with your teeth, so you don't need to worry about your teeth cracking. It is also much less conspicuous than the metal variety. The cost of dental bonding varies depending on the degree of treatment required, but tends to range from $300 to $600 per tooth.