What is Direct Composite Bonding?

Direct composite bonding is the precise placement of restorative material by a dentist on your tooth. This form of bonding is usually completed in one sitting, and you do not have to make multiple trips to the dentist or allow a curing period between applications. The dentist applies materials colored to match the color of your tooth or teeth in order to fill cavities, repair gaps and spaces between teeth,or repair chips and broken teeth and make up worn out edges of the tooth.

What Are Dental Veneers?

A dental veneer is when your dentist applies or sculpts composite materials onto the tooth directly to make them more prominent when you smile. In dental terms, they are called direct composite veneers and in non-technical language, it is simply known as bonding. This method is the less expensive treatment for a person with chipped or broken teeth, stains or discoloration, gaps between their teeth, and crooked or misshapen teeth.

What is Adhesive Bonding?

Adhesive bonding involves attaching the restoration material to the tooth using a bonding agent, an etchant, an adhesive, and then using curing light of great intensity. This method of treatment is primaryily used for metal free and esthetic crowns, bridges, porcelain veneers, inlays and outlays.

How Does the Bonding Process Work?

If you require a direct composite or adhesive method of dental bonding, the first thing your dentist will do is separate your teeth with a rubber gum to prevent interference from the saliva and thus moisture. An anesthetic injection may be used if the procedure calls for it. After this, the dentist will apply a phosphoric acid solution to the actual tooth so that the adhesive or bonding agent will adhere to it better. After 15 minutes, the acid solution will be removed and the bonding agent will be applied.

If a direct composite bonding technique is being applied, then the dentist will apply putty like resin to the natural surface of the tooth and give it shape by sculpting it. An intense curing light will be projected on it to harden the composite. The application of resin will be repeated until the filling or direct composite veneer has taken full shape. The dentist will finish the filling appropriately, so that it does not create tooth sensitivity or dislodge itself

For a laboratory-based restoration, the dentist will apply adhesive to the restoration, place it on your tooth, and project the intense curing light on it for the time it requires to bond. It is quite common for a bonded tooth; especially one which is filled with a crown or on which an inlay or outlay has been placed to feel sensitive. However if the sensitivity persists after you have been done with the procedure for a while, then you should consult your dentist.

How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost?

It is difficult to estimate the cost of dental bonding separately, as it is done in collaboration with other cosmetic dental procedures. However, if you are getting a metal crown made from a lab, then the entire cost of the procedure will include the bonding cost as well. The other factors that influence the cost of dental bonding is the experience and advanced training of your dentist, your insurance coverage, and your geographical location.

Related posts:

1. Dental Filling Options-Cosmetic Dental Inlays and Onlays
2. What Are Dental Veneers?