Cosmetic
Dental Bonding
Rebuilding a chip or closing a small gap with tooth-colored material, usually in one visit.
Bonding uses the same composite resin as a filling, shaped by hand onto the front of a tooth. It can rebuild a chipped corner, close a small gap between front teeth, smooth a rough edge, or make a tooth that sits slightly short match its neighbor.
Its great advantage is that it usually removes no healthy tooth at all. The surface is roughened microscopically, the resin is bonded on, and it is shaped and polished in the chair. Nothing is sent to a lab and nothing is irreversible.
The trade-off against veneers is longevity and stain resistance. Composite picks up stain from coffee and red wine over the years and can chip at a thin edge. For one tooth or a small change, that trade is usually worth it. For a whole front row you want the durability of porcelain.
Is this right for me?
- You chipped a front tooth and want it back to shape without altering the tooth.
- There is a small gap between two front teeth that you would like closed.
- You want to see what a change looks like before committing to anything permanent.
What to expect
Agreeing the shape
We look at photos of your teeth together and agree what you want changed — length, width, the shape of an edge. Being specific here is what makes the result right.
Shade matching
Front teeth are not one flat color. We usually layer two or three shades so the result has the same depth as the tooth beside it.
Sculpting and setting
The resin is placed and shaped by hand, then cured with a light. Numbing is often unnecessary because no drilling is involved.
Polishing and your bite
A high polish is what keeps it from staining. We also check the edge against your lower teeth, because a bonded edge that takes the bite will chip.
Your comfort
Most bonding is done without an injection, which surprises people. If the chip goes near the nerve or the tooth is already sensitive we will numb it — but we will ask you first rather than assuming.
Insurance and payment, sorted before you sit down
We take all PPO plans, Medi-Cal Dental and most Medicare Advantage dental plans, and we check your benefits before treatment so the estimate is in writing. If you need to spread the cost, we work with CareCredit, Cherry and Sunbit.
Apply for financing — Cherry Avenue Office
- CareCredit®Apply online in a few minutes. Decision is usually immediate.
- CherryApply on your phone. The pre-qualification check does not affect your credit score.
- SunbitApplied for at the front desk when you come in — takes a few minutes.
Questions patients ask
How long does bonding last?
Commonly several years, sometimes much longer. It depends on where it is, how much force that edge takes, and whether you grind. It can be repaired or repolished rather than replaced outright.
Will it stain?
Gradually, yes — composite takes up stain in a way porcelain does not. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking all speed that up. A polish at your cleaning visits helps considerably.
Should I whiten first?
Yes, if you are planning to. Composite does not lighten with whitening gel, so bonding matched to un-whitened teeth will look dark afterwards. Whiten, wait two weeks for the shade to settle, then bond.
Bonding or veneers?
Bonding for one or two teeth and small changes; it is cheaper, faster and reversible. Veneers for several teeth, bigger changes in shape or color, and better long-term stain resistance. We will lay both out with the costs.
Does insurance cover it?
When bonding repairs a broken or decayed tooth, often yes. When it is purely to change appearance, usually not. We check your plan and tell you which category yours falls into before we start.
Related services
Thinking about Dental Bonding?
Send a request and we'll call you back to find a time. You'll get a written estimate before anything is booked in the schedule.