Dental Bonding Calgary - Cosmetic Tooth Reshaping

In dentistry, bonding refers to permanently adhering dental materials to your teeth via dental adhesives accompanied by a curing light. Chances are you’ve probably already had dental procedures done involving some type of bonding whether adhesive or direct composite bonding for a restoration such as a crown or bridge.

Types of Dental Bonding

Some dental composites are tooth colored so that they give off a natural appearance. These composites are used to fill cavities, restore chips and cracks, or seal gaps between teeth and build up teeth edges that are worn-down where necessary. Direct composite bonding is usually complete in just one visit to your dentist. However, complicated treatments may require more than one appointment, but nothing that would require temporaries or waiting for laboratory work.

In some cases these tooth-colored composite materials may be used to sculpt the tooth’s surfaces which are most prominent in your smile. Direct composite veneers, also referred to as bonding, provides an easy and less costly way to better perfect your smile from gaps between teeth, chips, discoloration and staining, misshapen teeth and slight crookedness. This solution is ideal for qualifying patients as there are minimal preparations involved and no impressions or temporaries necessary.

Adhesive Dental Bonding

Securing a restoration to a tooth via an etchant,  a bonding agent and adhesive accompanied by a high intensity curing light, is known as adhesive bonding. This method of treatment is usually used for metal-free esthetic crowns, bridges and inlays/onlays as well as porcelain veneers.

Dental Bonding Procedure

In both direct composite and adhesive bonding, the process begins the same by the dentist using a retractor to isolate the teeth and prevent moisture interference.  An anesthetic injection may be administered for extensive procedures. The etching solution is then applied to the tooth’s natural surface. This part of the process is much like using sandpaper to rough up a surface to enable the paint to adhere better.  The etching reinforces the bond of the composite with the adhesive to the surface of the tooth and does not hurt. The etch is removed after 15 seconds and the liquid bond is then applied.  

Direct Composite Restoration

A tooth colored composite resin is placed, by your dentist, in stages to the tooth’s natural surface which is then shaped and sculpted. That layer is then hardened with a curing light. Another layer of composite will be added and cured in the same manner until the direct composite veneer or filling is finished, and its shape complete. A finish will also be applied by your dentist to guarantee that the bonded composite won’t dislodge or create tooth sensitivity.

Laboratory Restorations

Adhesive will be placed by your dentist inside the restoration so that it may be placed and cured with a high intensity light so that it may harden. In many cases after a tooth is bonded, (especially if it has previously been filled or fitted with a crown or inlay/onlays), patients may experience sensitivity after treatment. This sensation is usually minor and short lived. However, should it persist be sure to notify your dentist.

Dental Bonding Costs

The cost of bonding is difficult to determine because the both treatments are often performed alongside other treatments in dentistry. For instance, a patient requiring a crown from a laboratory would not be charged extra in order to have the crown bonded into position. The charge for bonding is already included in the fee for the crown.

Procedures such as direct composite veneers are usually cosmetic in nature and may vary in cost depending on the dentist’s location, training and experience. The cost for treatment involving composite fillings will be determined by what your dentist charges and your dental insurance coverage, as many dental insurance companies will cover part of the cost of the dental filling.