by Paul Oranika

Created on: November 24, 2009   Last Updated: November 25, 2009

Dental bonding is a medical procedure used to fix cavity problems, and also to repair damaged or chipped teeth. Dentists can also use the procedure to fix and mask teeth that have become discolored. Dental bonding may also be used to close some unsightly natural gaps caused by any form of accident or damage to the teeth. Bonding can be used to change or alter the shape of the teeth, and make the teeth look more attractive. Tooth bonding procedure has many benefits. This article discusses the benefits of cosmetic tooth bonding.

This is a relative simple procedure with limited complications. It involves several steps. First, a very mild etching liquid is coated around the patient's teeth, which helps to create small crevices in the enamel of the teeth. The purpose is to create a rough surface on the teeth that can permit the durable resin material to bond with the teeth. The resin is then placed in layers, and after the last coating, a high-intensity light is used to cure the resin material into the surface of the teeth. Hardening of the resin occurs in minutes and the last stage is for sculpting, shaping, and polishing.

One of the advantages is that it leaves the patient with an increased sense of confidence particularly seen from the smiles on their face. Materials used for teeth fillings or crown procedures are tougher and more durable .The process of sculpting and polishing the resin material may leave areas of the polished surface with very smooth appearance. Dentists use state-of-the-art dental equipment to polish the resin after it hardens up, the dental bonding materials are very resistant to discolorations. They are not stained but are less resistant to stains than other materials.

Dental bonding may require more time than other dental procedures. The various stages the process require time. For instance, the material used in dental bonding comes in different shades matched to the patient's natural teeth. Multiple layers are required to complete the bonding procedure, which in turn requires more time. On the average it may take up to two hours to fix one tooth.The use of composite bonding material is an advantage in dental bonding because it makes it easy for the teeth to bond directly with the composite material. It provides a very firm support to the teeth. Composite material also provide additional advantage, it is used to fill teeth cracks.

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