Dental Bonding

When to avoid

• Untreated tooth decay or active gum disease, until treated
• Cosmetic changes more dramatic than small corrections to shape, size or color, which may call for porcelain veneers or other treatment

Possible risks

• Staining or discoloration over time, more so with coffee, tea, red wine and smoking, as composite resists stains less well than porcelain
• Chipping or fracture of the bonded material, which in one long-term study was more frequent in the first year after placement
• Surface wear, loss of polish, and increasing surface roughness over time
• Color mismatch with neighboring teeth or discoloration at the edges of the bonding
• Loosening or debonding of bonded material, which may require re-bonding
• Short-term sensitivity after the procedure; sensitivity that persists can signal leakage at the edges or a fractured restoration
• Tooth decay at the edges of bonded areas
• Eventual need for a touch-up, repair or replacement, typically after 3 to 10 years

Who needs extra care

• Heavy clenching or grinding of the teeth, or a deep overbite, which places more force on bonded composite and may make an occlusal guard (night guard) part of the plan
• Planned teeth whitening, which lightens natural teeth but not composite, so the timing of any whitening is weighed when the bonding shade is chosen
• Contact sports or other activities with a risk of mouth injury, where a mouthguard helps protect bonded teeth

1. We examine your teeth and gums and ask what you would like to change, and any tooth decay is treated before bonding
2. If you are also thinking about teeth whitening, we discuss it at this stage, since whitening lightens natural teeth but not composite
3. For the bonding itself, we first use a shade guide to choose a resin color that matches your natural teeth
4. Light roughening and a coat of conditioning liquid prepare the tooth surface and help the resin adhere
5. We apply the putty-like resin and mold and smooth it into the planned shape
6. A curing light hardens the resin and bonds it to the tooth
7. Final adjustments are made, including to how the bonded tooth meets the opposing teeth when you bite
8. The bonding is polished to a natural-looking shine
9. Each tooth takes about 30 to 60 minutes, and treatment is usually completed in one visit

Composite resin stays soft and putty-like while it is shaped, then hardens under a curing light, so the final form of the repair is set on the tooth itself rather than in a lab.

• The enamel is lightly roughened, often by etching with a mild acid, and coated with a liquid bonding agent. The resin locks into that prepared surface, so the bond relies on adhesion rather than on cutting away healthy tooth structure.
• A shade guide is used to match the resin to the natural teeth, and the material is applied, molded, and smoothed to the planned shape before it is hardened and polished to a natural-looking shine.
• On an exposed root, adhesive or resin seals the open tubules in the dentin with a physical barrier, which blocks the fluid movement that transmits hot, cold and touch to the nerve.
• Because new composite can be bonded to existing composite once its surface is cleaned and conditioned, a chipped or worn area can be repaired by adding material instead of replacing the whole restoration.

• There is typically no downtime, and normal activities can resume right after the visit
• Short-term sensitivity can occur and is often eased with over-the-counter pain relievers
• Brushing at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and regular checkups and cleanings help protect bonded teeth
• Avoiding nail biting, chewing on pens, and opening packages with your teeth lowers the risk of chipping
• Drinking fewer dark beverages such as coffee, tea and red wine, limiting acidic foods such as citrus and vinegar, and not smoking help limit staining
• Professional polishing can lower surface staining, and a chipped or worn area can often be repaired by bonding new composite to it
• A sharp edge on a bonded tooth, or a tooth that feels odd when you bite down, can typically be corrected at a follow-up appointment

• Porcelain veneers, lab-made ceramic shells that resist staining and wear better and last longer, but need some enamel removed and cannot be reversed
• Printed hybrid ceramic-resin veneers, such as SmileSculpt veneers, designed from a digital scan and bonded over the front teeth
• Teeth whitening for discoloration on teeth that are otherwise well shaped
• Crowns for teeth with significant damage or loss of tooth structure
• Orthodontic treatment, such as clear aligners, for gaps, crowding or rotated teeth
• Desensitizing toothpaste, in-office fluoride gel, or a gum graft for sensitive exposed roots

• Bonding adds tooth-colored composite resin to the tooth and typically needs no enamel removal, which is why it can be reversed[1]
• Bonding typically lasts 3 to 10 years before it needs a touch-up or replacement, compared with 10 to 20 years for porcelain veneers[1]
• In a study that followed bonded front teeth for a mean of about seven years, roughly 88% of restorations placed for fractures and gaps were still in service at up to 10 years[6]
• A 2023 meta-analysis of resin composite veneers found higher survival for direct veneers, built up on the teeth, than for indirect veneers made outside the mouth[7]
• Dental adhesives and resin coatings can seal the open tubules of exposed root dentin, forming a barrier that blocks the fluid movement behind root sensitivity[9]