Cosmetic Dentistry - Dental Bonding - Smile Makeovers

Improving My Smile with Dental Bonds

How Does Bonding Work?
Bonding uses composite resins or porcelain/composite veneers to cover the surface of stained teeth and give a nice, even appearance to broken or misshapen teeth. There are two basic bonding techniques:

• Composite bonding
  First, the front of the tooth is slightly reduced to prevent the "new" tooth from being too bulky. Microscopic grooves are then etched into the tooth surface with a mild acid. A composite resin matched to the colour of the surrounding teeth is applied to the tooth, contoured into shape, set using a curing light, and finally smoothed and polished.
• Veneer bonding
  A veneer is made to match the colour and shape of your tooth. Porcelain veneers are generally stronger, while composite veneers are less expensive. With porcelain veneers, the dentist takes an impression of the tooth and sends it to the dental lab for fabrication of the veneer, usually after the front of the tooth has been reduced. With either method, the tooth is prepared for bonding by roughening the front surface with mild etching solution. The veneer can then be bonded to your tooth using a dental bonding cement.

While more expensive, a porcelain veneer offers a better colour match to your surrounding teeth and typically lasts for five to 10 years.

Above article from: www.colgate.ca

Energy Square Dental
Bill Blandford, DDS, PC
Telephone: (214) 369-9966
4849 Greenville, Suite 173
Dallas, TX 75206

Smile Makeovers - Dental Bonding

Dental bonding can fix minor cosmetic problems with your teeth, like staining, small gaps, chips, or cracks. It uses a plastic resin that is bonded to the teeth after they have been prepared by a mild etching solution. Several coats of the resin are applied to the teeth and hardened. After all the coats are applied, the teeth are polished and shaped to give one a very pleasing, white, beautifully sculpted smile.

The length of time it takes to undergo the procedure is about two hours. It is quite an expensive procedure which can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 per tooth. The good news is that some dental insurance plans cover dental bonding under certain conditions. Check with your insurance provider, if you are not sure whether it is covered or not. The results last about 10 years, making it a long-term investment.

Sometimes dental bonding is used instead of silver fillings. It gives you a very natural appearance, unlike mercury fillings. They can be put in small cracks without drilling too much of the healthy tooth away. There are a few different colors to choose from, so that it can match your skin tone and other teeth well.

For small fixes like fillings, your dental bonding can be done in one sitting. If you are opting to do a relatively large area, a mold may need to be created to help the dentist sculpt your teeth with the bonding. In that case, it will take two appointments and bit more time to complete the process. While bonding is far more expensive than conventional silver fillings, people appreciate the fact that their smile is left looking better than when they first came in, instead of adding metal to it. The bonding is also said to expand with your teeth better, which is why they do not crack as easily as silver fillings.

Above article from www.Teeth-Whitening.com

Smile Makeovers Dallas Texas
Energy Square Dental
Bill Blandford, DDS, PC
(214) 369-9966
4849 Greenville, Suite 173 • Dallas, TX 75206

Cosmetic Dentistry Dallas TX - Dental Care

Dental Care for Crowns, Bridges and Braces

If you have fixed bridgework, braces or other dental work which connects adjacent teeth, cleaning under and around it with an interdental brush can prevent tooth decay and gum disease. While their use may seem intuitive, many people are unaware that plaque accumulates under bridge connectors, around orthodontic brackets, etc. This animation describes use of an interdental brush to avoid recurrent caries around fixed bridge retainer margins, and the resulting failure of expensive dental work.



Above article & video produced by: www.ToothIQ.com

Cosmetic Dentistry & Dental Braces
Energy Square Dental
Bill Blandford, DDS, PC
(214) 369-9966
4849 Greenville, Suite 173 • Dallas, TX 75206