Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is one of the quickest and most reliable ways to whiten teeth and improve one’s smile.  This cosmetic dentistry procedure involves the application of composite resin material to the teeth to conceal discoloration and other minor aesthetic flaws.  Patients who undergo dental bonding achieve immediate results; they leave the dental office with uniformly white, healthy-looking teeth.

It should be noted that dental bonding is an exclusively cosmetic procedure.  The composite resin material can add some strength to teeth, but these effects are marginal.  The procedure does not repair teeth; whatever damage that was done to the teeth remains under the bonding material, albeit perfectly hidden.  Still, anyone in need of restorative as well as cosmetic restorations will not be well served by dental bonding.

For people on strict budgets, dental bonding is a less expensive alternative to porcelain veneers.  Neither treatment is covered by dental insurance, generally speaking.  While porcelain veneers offer a more natural appearance than dental bonding, both procedures produce excellent results.

Good candidates for dental bonding include:

• Those who need to improve their smiles very quickly; conceivably, a person can undergo dental bonding and attend a social affair that same night.
• Those with superficially damaged teeth (e.g., stained teeth, teeth with minor chips).
• Those who have realistic expectations of the procedure, understanding that, unlike porcelain veneers, dental bonding materials are not translucent and therefore do not reflect light in the same way that natural tooth enamel does.
• Those who have generally healthy teeth but simply wish to improve their smiles.

Dental bonding is an outstanding solution for many people.  Other possible solutions include porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and porcelain crowns.  A qualified, experienced cosmetic dentist can discuss your goals with you and educate you about your options during an initial consultation.

For more information regarding dental bonding, contact our Bloomington, Illinois cosmetic dentistry center.