Was the Brittle Too Brittle?

Smiling beautiful girl and her handsome boyfriend taking selfieThis time of year, we’re always munching on yummy stuff — from chocolate Santas to gingerbread men, from holiday cookies to peanut brittle. Only sometimes, that brittle can be a little more than brittle, and we end up chipping a tooth.

Uh oh. As long as the chip is small, it’s not worrisome for the health of the tooth, but you may not like the look of it very much. Not to worry, Dr. Butkofski and Dr. Strober can make that tooth look just as good as before, maybe better, with composite bonding.

If you need a little bonding, now’s a great time to come in and have us take care of it in just 30 minutes or so. Plus, it’s a great way to use up end-of-the-year dental insurance dollars, just in time for the office holiday party!

What is dental bonding?

Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin to repair decayed, chipped, fractured, or discolored teeth. Composite resin is a combination of tooth-colored plastic and glass combined into a workable, yet very strong tooth covering. The composite resin is chosen to match the surrounding teeth; it is shaped to fit; and then polished to a perfect finish. Dental bonding is one of the least expensive cosmetic dental procedures; it’s an alternative to porcelain veneers or dental crowns, both of which are more expensive dental restorations.

Bonding requires a certain degree of artistic sense from Dr. Butkofski and Dr. Strober. They place the composite resin in layers, curing it as it is built up. For larger applications, such as replacing a chipped area of a tooth, they must recreate the lost piece of tooth. Their expertise makes this an effective repair tool for cosmetic problems with a tooth.

Who is an ideal candidate for dental bonding?

Anyone can have dental bonding as a cosmetic repair for a tooth. Maybe you have a tooth that is discolored from tetracycline you were given as a child. Maybe you have a chip on a corner you’d like to fix. There are lots of great reasons for bonding.

One thing is important to know with bonding, however. It is only a cosmetic fix. If a tooth has a true problem, such as decay or a deep crack, those issues cannot be covered up with composite resin in a dental bonding treatment. We would first have to resolve the issue for the tooth to then be eligible for the aesthetic improvements of bonding.

What results can I expect from dental bonding?

Dental bonding can fix various cosmetic flaws with the teeth: chips, small cracks, discoloration, misshapen teeth, small gaps, and others. We use a shade guide to match the composite resin precisely to the color of your adjacent natural teeth. Then we sculpt the resin in layers until we make the shape fit the tooth type perfectly. We can then shave off any areas we’re not satisfied with.

The result of bonding is a cosmetically perfect tooth or teeth. And who couldn’t use a few of those?

Dental bonding is often compared to porcelain veneers, as they both can mask the cosmetic appearance of a tooth or teeth. This is a fair comparison, but bonding doesn’t last anywhere near as long as veneers, which can last up to two decades. If you take good care of your teeth and don’t do things such as chewing ice, bonding can last for up to one decade.

If you’re interested in a little bonding, away from the in-laws over the holidays, call us at Gentle Dental (732) 549-5660 to schedule your appointment.

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