Many people picture a drill and an injection when they hear “bonding”. For most cosmetic bonding there is little or no drilling, and often no injection. The tooth is cleaned and lightly prepared, tooth-coloured composite is added and shaped by hand, and most of the appointment goes on careful sculpting and polishing. A single tooth is usually finished in one visit.
The consultation comes first
Before anything is placed, the dentist checks the tooth and talks with you about the shape and colour you are after. This is also when bonding is weighed against other options. For a small chip or gap it is often the simplest choice, but for bigger changes a porcelain veneer may suit better. If you are thinking about whitening, this is the time to say so, because composite does not lighten with whitening gel. Whitening first means the bonding can be matched to your new shade.
There is nothing special to do on the day. You can eat and drink normally beforehand.
The appointment, in order
- Choosing the shade. Shade tabs are held against your teeth, usually before they dry out under the light, to pick composite that blends with the enamel around it. Several shades may be layered on front teeth to copy the way natural enamel is more translucent at the edge.
- Preparing the surface. The tooth is cleaned, sometimes lightly roughened, and treated with a mild etching gel and a bonding agent so the composite attaches firmly. On healthy enamel, little or no tooth is removed.
- Building up the composite. The material starts soft, a little like modelling clay, and is placed in thin layers and shaped to the outline planned.
- Setting each layer. A blue curing light hardens each layer in seconds.
- Shaping and polishing. The set composite is trimmed, your bite is checked, and the surface is polished until it feels smooth to your tongue and reflects light like the teeth beside it.
How long it takes depends on how much is being built up and how many teeth are involved. A small edge repair is much quicker than closing a gap or reshaping several front teeth.
What it feels like
Enamel has no nerves, so adding composite to an intact tooth is usually comfortable without anaesthetic. Most people notice only gentle pressure, the air and water spray, and the odd moment of cold. If the bonding is also repairing decay, or the tooth is sensitive, the area can be numbed first.
Afterwards, some people notice mild sensitivity to hot or cold for a short time. If it persists or the bite feels high, let the clinic know so the surface can be checked and adjusted.
How bonding compares with a porcelain veneer
| Composite bonding | Porcelain veneer | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | Usually one | Usually two or more |
| Tooth removed | Little or none | Often a thin layer |
| Made | Directly on the tooth | In a laboratory |
| If it chips | Usually repaired by adding composite | Often replaced |
| Staining | Can pick up stain over time | Resists staining well |
Both can last for many years. A study of front-tooth composite bonding for fractured teeth and gaps (Lempel and colleagues, Dental Materials, 2017) reported about 88% survival at up to 10 years. A systematic review of porcelain and glass-ceramic veneers (Morimoto and colleagues, International Journal of Prosthodontics, 2016) estimated 89% survival over a median of 9 years. Our guides to composite veneers and bonding versus veneers go into the trade-offs and general market costs.
Looking after it from day one
Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, and keep up regular check-ups, where the bonding can be polished if it has dulled. Composite picks up stain more readily than enamel, so rinsing with water after coffee, tea or red wine helps. Avoid biting pens, ice or fingernails with a bonded edge. If a small piece does chip, it can usually be repaired by adding more composite. There is more on this in our article about how long bonding lasts and how to care for it.
Common questions
Is bonding permanent?
It is long-lasting rather than permanent. Over time it may need polishing, a small repair or eventually replacement.
Does bonding damage the tooth?
Very little natural tooth is removed, which is why bonding is described as a conservative option. The surface is etched so the composite can grip, which is a normal part of the process.
Can several teeth be done at once?
Often, yes. Several small repairs can usually be completed in one appointment, while larger reshaping of a number of teeth may be planned over more than one visit.
Talk it through first
If you are wondering whether bonding suits your tooth, Lumi Dental offers a free cosmetic consult to look at the options with you, and you can see current offers as well.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for personal dental advice. Suitability for bonding depends on an in person assessment.
