A complete guide to composite bonding: What to expect from your new smile

05 / 09 / 2024

A complete guide to composite bonding: What to expect from your new smile

Composite bonding, also referred to as dental bonding or edge bonding, is a versatile and widely utilised cosmetic dental procedure, which many of you will have heard of. Composite bonding has taken the dental world and social media by storm in recent years, and our team at Lighthouse Dental Practice would like to share all the details, pros, and cons with you; after all, consideration of composite bonding is likely how you have found yourself immersed in our latest blog!

Composite bonding offers a minimally invasive solution for improving the overall aesthetics of your smile. It could address issues such as some discolouration, chips, gaps, and minor misalignments. This blog plans to provide you with an in-depth overview of composite bonding, from the materials and techniques involved to patient management and long-term care.

Understanding composite bonding

Composite bonding involves the application of a tooth-coloured resin material to the natural surface of your teeth. This resin can be sculpted and polished so that it seamlessly blends with the natural tooth structure, making it an excellent option for aesthetic improvements.

The primary material we use is composite resin. It is a mixture of plastic and fine glass particles. At Lighthouse Dental Practice, we keep in close contact with our suppliers to ensure that we are always using the most up-to-date and innovative composites that offer the best and longest-lasting results. Modern composites offer enhanced durability and a natural appearance. We use a special bonding agent as an adhesive to ensure that the resin adheres firmly to your tooth structure. By using high-end materials and artful skill, Dr Tocca and Dr Margariti hope to achieve seamless results for every individual who embarks on a smile makeover with our team.

Composite bonding is versatile and used in many different cases to resolve dental complaints. Some issues that composite bonding can rectify include:

• Cosmetic corrections: Addressing minor shape alterations, stubborn stains and light discolouration
• Restorations: We can use composite to repair chipped teeth
• Gaps and spaces: Composite can help to fill small gaps between teeth, for example, if you have a small diastema
• Protection of exposed roots: Over time, our teeth and gums can suffer from abrasion – composite is widely used to cover exposed roots caused by gum recession to improve the overall look of your smile and prevent increased sensitivity

What are the pros and cons?

As with all treatments, composite bonding has both advantages and limitations. At Lighthouse Dental Practice, when it is clinically possible, our team will always encourage composite bonding for many reasons.

Firstly, composite bonding is minimally invasive in comparison to alternative procedures such as veneers and crowns. It requires little to no removal of the natural tooth structure, which means that there is minimal damage to your natural tooth and the procedure, in most cases, can be reversed at any time.

Composite bonding also provides a very natural and aesthetically pleasing result. Due to its versatility, addressing various cosmetic and minor restorative issues has never been easier!

Quick and easy

With composite bonding, we can offer ‘same day smiles’. With no need for laboratory-made constructions, you can walk through our doors on the day of your treatment appointment with a dream of a new seamless smile, and by the time you leave our team will have made it a reality. This is particularly useful for those that have busy lifestyles, and struggle to commit to multiple appointments. If your composite does wear or chip, it is very easy to also carry out same-day smile repairs. If you do experience minor wear or chipping, ensure that you make an appointment for a repair as soon as possible to ensure that no further damage occurs.

Care and maintenance

As with all things, there are limitations to composite bonding, so it may not be a suitable choice for all. Composite can be less durable than other restorative materials like crowns or veneers. If you have a hard or difficult bite, the risk of breakages may increase. Composite is also susceptible to staining over time from different foods, drinks and smoking. Our team can advise which foods and drinks make composite more susceptible to staining.

It is important that when you invest in your smile, you do so with a plan of maintaining your teeth for the long term. To combat staining, we recommend regular routine visits with our dental hygienists, Summer and Roberta, to keep your gums healthy and polish your composite back to its original lustre. Regular brushing and interdental cleaning will also maintain the integrity of composite bonding. To monitor the condition of your composite bonding, it is important to attend routine dental examinations. We offer affordable routine care maintenance plans at Lighthouse Dental Practice. You can read more about our plans here.

Over time, composite may also require touch-ups or replacements. In many cases, composite lasts a significant amount of time for many patients. We offer consultations with Dr Tocca and Dr Margariti who are always happy to provide open and honest professional feedback as to whether composite bonding is the correct choice for your individual needs. We always like to meet patients’ expectations and smile goals, and an initial consultation is always the best place to begin. At this stage, we can also begin to plan your procedure and our treatment coordinator team, Hannah and Jane, can follow up with you to discuss your treatment estimate, finance, consents, and further appointments should you wish to proceed with the proposed plan.

Conclusion

To conclude, composite bonding is a valuable treatment option for many, offering a balance between aesthetics, functionality, and patient comfort. By understanding the materials, techniques, and patient management involved, together we can effectively utilise composite bonding to enhance your smile. By continuously educating ourselves and using the latest and best materials, we can ensure optimal outcomes and patient satisfaction with our composite bonding procedures.

Are you considering enhancing your smile with composite bonding? Why not contact our team today? We look forward to welcoming you to the practice to begin your smile journey soon.