Cavities can be identified by your dentist during an exam and when evaluating your x-rays. Once tooth decay is found, your dentist will develop a treatment plan based on the location of the decay and the type of restoration recommended. If caught early, cavities can be treated easily with a minimal amount of tooth structure removed. When ignored and left untreated, decay can lead to unnecessary pain and more costly treatment like root canals or crowns. Fillings, like our natural teeth, need to be maintained with a healthy diet, brushing, flossing in-between teeth, and regular dental check-ups.
Bonding may be used in combination with orthodontics to achieve a patient’s dream smile. It is very helpful in closing gaps between teeth to create the ideal tooth size or shape before or after orthodontics. Bonding resin can also be used to cover up or fill black triangles in areas of gum recession after the teeth are straightened with orthodontics.
Because bonded resin can be highly polished, it is often used as an alternative to more costly esthetic treatments like crowns or veneers. It is generally a non-invasive procedure meaning that little to no tooth structure is removed in esthetic cases. This means that cosmetic bonding is also reversible in many cases! The same cannot be said for ceramic, or porcelain, veneers or cosmetic crowns, where natural tooth structure must be removed during the process. Bonding can be used to improve the appearance of an individual tooth or the overall smile. You may have heard the term “composite veneer”. This refers to using a bonding technique with composite resin to cover the entire front surface of your tooth.
Bonding is long lasting if maintained properly. Bonding occasionally may need to be replaced completely over time if it breaks down. Bonding is not as resistant as crowns or veneers to stress on the teeth, which is why it may need to be replaced more often. Bonding does need to be cared for with regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental exams. Often, a night guard is recommended after completing bonding procedures, to protect your teeth and bonding from chipping and breaking down as a result of grinding your teeth.
