Cosmetic Bonding An Overview
Dr. Stephen Hoard is a cosmetic dentist in New Bern, North Carolina. Dr. Hoard offers tooth bonding to correct minor cosmetic dental concerns such as spaces and gaps between teeth, chipped teeth, of stained teeth. Tooth bonding is a fast, affordable treatment that is usually completed in a single visit to our New Bern dentist office.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special UV light. The material is bonded to the tooth to restore or improve your smile aesthetics.
Is Tooth Bonding Right For You?
Dental bonding is a quick and affordable cosmetic dentistry treatment that can be used to:
- Repair chipped or cracked teeth
- Improve the appearance of discolored teeth
- Close spaces between teeth
- Make teeth look longer
- Improve the shape of teeth
Cosmetic Bonding What to Expect
Minimal tooth preparation is needed for a dental bonding procedure. Anesthesia is often not necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Dr. Hoard will select a composite resin color that will closely match the color of your natural teeth for virtually unnoticeable treatment.
The procedure begins with a thorough dental exam and cleaning. The next step is to prepare your tooth. The surface of your tooth will be slightly abraded, and a conditioning liquid will be applied, to help the bonding resin adhere to the tooth. The tooth-colored, puttylike resin is then applied, molded, and smoothed to the desired shape.
The material is hardened by an ultraviolet light or dental laser. Once the composite has cured, Dr. Hoard will trim, shape, and polish it to match the sheen of the rest of the tooth surface.
A dental bonding procedure is usually completed in a single visit and take less than an hour to complete.