Tooth Bonding
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Teeth Bonding
Can bonding be a good solution to the gaps between my front teeth?
Yes this is one of the most frequent uses of tooth bonding, especially if your teeth are otherwise attractive and the spaces are not too large. It is very conservative with no tooth removal required and tends to hold up well. You can see examples of bonding closing spaces in our photo gallery.
Can bonding fix the chips in my teeth?
Tooth Bonding is usually excellent to fix reasonable sized chips. Its success can be limited if they are on the biting edge where a lot of pressure will be applied to the bonding. In those cases it is important to determine the cause of chipping such as grinding or a poor bite, not only to prevent the bonding from failing, but also other teeth from chipping.
What is the price of bonding?
It can range from $250 to $450 per tooth depending on the extent of the procedure required. At DesertSmiles, our Glendale cosmetic dental office, we are always happy to give you a free estimate.
Can bonding be used for 'peg laterals'?
Absolutely, especially if the patient is under the age of 18. We restore many of these with bonding especially following orthodontic treatment. Because of the size of bonding required with these very small teeth, the best longevity will be obtained with a veneer. We do not like to place veneers until the patient is done growing, thus bonding is a great alternative for teenagers who want a great smile during their important formative years.
Can veneers and bonding be combined?
We do this quite a bit especially in the tougher economy we all now face to help moderate the cost of a new smile. With our latest bonding material – Empress Direct, we can match bonding along side veneers very well. The veneers will never change color and the bonding can, but with proper care we can usually go several years before there would be any appreciable difference in the color of the two types of restoration.
Can bonding discolor? If so, can it be retouched?
Yes and Yes! Bonding is a plastic material and even though we use the latest and best material available, it can pick up surface staining over time. Regular polishing following placement will help prevent the stain from building up and keep your bonding looking terrific for a long time. If the stain is left for a long time to where it penetrates deeper in to the bonding surface, then polishing will not totally restore the original color. Things such as red wine, tobacco products, coffee and tea can discolor bonding more rapidly.
Do you have to grind on the tooth prior to placing bonding?
In many cases we do not remove any tooth structure. If there is old restorations, decay, or heavy stains, it is better to conservatively remove these prior to bonding. If the tooth or teeth will be too bulky or protruding with the added thickness of the bonding, minor reduction is done prior to bonding placement.
Can I get veneers later if I do bonding now? Will the bonding have to be removed?
Bonding never precludes you from doing veneers later. Because of the very conservative nature of bonding, adequate tooth structure will remain for veneers. Yes the old bonding will need to be removed for two reasons. Veneers for longevity need to be bonded to tooth structure with a laser. In addition, applying veneers over the bonding would create a bulky look that would not be cosmetically pleasing.
If you are interested in tooth bonding and you have questions regarding this cosmetic dentistry procedure, please contact our experienced cosmetic dentists for an individualized consultation. We happily serve patients in the Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Peoria, Arizona areas.
