What Is Composite Bonding?

Unlike porcelain or metallic restorations that need to be designed and shaped in advance, with composite bonding, the material is applied directly to the tooth and then shaped. The material is cured using UV light, which leaves it hardened and very resilient.

This procedure is growing in popularity as an alternative to treatments like veneers, crowns, orthodontics and teeth whitening. It’s even possible to achieve a complete smile makeover using nothing more than composite resin.

The composite bonding process

The treatment process is very quick and can be completed in just one visit. This offers benefits over treatments like veneers and crowns which will take multiple trips to the dentist to achieve similar results.

This is also a minimally invasive procedure, and there is very little preparation of the underlying tooth. A special material is painted on the tooth surface to roughen it and provide a better surface for the resin to attach to. With veneers and crowns, some of the enamel needs to be removed, but the enamel is left alone with composite bonding.

The resin is colour-matched to your teeth and then applied directly to the tooth surface. This is then shaped to address your specific aesthetic goals. This could include hiding a gap, concealing chips or cracks, or hiding thinning enamel.

Once the resin is the desired shape, it is hardened with UV light and then polished to perfection. The entire process for a single tooth can take as little as 30 minutes. It’s also completely pain-free and there is no downtime.

Benefits of composite bonding

Composting bonding is growing in popularity as a versatile and cost-effective way to improve the smile without a significant time or financial investment. These are just some of the benefits of composite bonding:

• This procedure is highly cost-effective when compared to alternatives such as orthodontics or porcelain veneers.

• The procedure is minimally invasive and completely pain-free. There is no need for local anaesthetic as there is no preparation of the tooth. This means you can get on with your day immediately after treatment.

• Composite bonding can be completed in just one visit. This allows for instant smile makeovers without the waiting.

• If there is a failure in the materials, it can easily be repaired. It’s also removable and reversible if you decide you no longer want to have a composite restoration. With veneers, once you decide to have veneers, you will need to wear them for life.

• This treatment is highly versatile. It can replace a number of procedures to help straighten, whiten and refine the smile. It can close gaps, conceal rotations, make teeth appear whiter and fix minor imperfections like chips, cracks and thinning enamel.

Potential downsides of composite bonding

In order to make an informed choice about your dental care, it’s important to also consider the downsides of treatment. Some of the negative points to consider before investing in composite bonding include:

• Not everyone is a suitable candidate. You may be told that your aesthetic concerns cannot be fixed with composite bonding. This could include situations where the underlying tooth structure is not sufficient to support the composite resin.

• Composite resin isn’t as durable as choices such as veneers or crowns. It will wear down over time and typically lasts for around 5 years before it needs to be repaired or replaced.

• Composite materials are strong, but not as strong as porcelain or metal. This means you will need to be careful about what you eat and certain habits like biting your nails. If you grind your teeth at night, you’ll also be unsuitable for this treatment option.

• The material can make your teeth feel more bulky, particularly if it is used to correct a rotated or crooked tooth. This can take some time to adjust to and might impact your bite.

The future of composite bonding

Researchers are always developing new materials and techniques to improve dental restorations. Composite bonding has come a long way in recent years and can now be used for more than just single-tooth restorations.

Dentists are now creating moulds that fit over the teeth and allow a liquid resin to be injected over the teeth. This provides a complete smile makeover that is comparable to veneers but significantly cheaper. It also allows the wearer to design their smile and choose the shade of whiteness.

In the future, we can expect to see advances in composite materials which will allow it to be applied in thinner layers with stronger results. Only a few years ago, composite resin was considered to be a poor material for dental fillings because it wasn’t as strong as amalgam fillings, but this is no longer the case and composite materials are fast becoming the norm.

Conclusion

Before choosing between composite bonding and alternative treatments, it’s important to be informed about the potential benefits of each treatment. The best way to achieve this is with a dental consultation. This is your chance to ask questions about the treatment and learn if you are a potential candidate.

While composite bonding might be a novel treatment that shows excellent promise, it isn’t the right choice for everyone. This treatment doesn’t last forever, so it’s important to consider the lifetime value of a treatment.

However, for those looking for a quick transformation that instantly upgrades their confidence, composite bonding can be an ideal solution. Provided the individual is aware of the limitations of the treatment and how it will either need to be replaced, removed or repaired after around 5-7 years, then it can be an ideal treatment option.

With advancements in materials, we could see composite bonding become a much more important part of dentistry in the coming years, offering restorative and aesthetic treatment options.