Here are the things patients wish they knew before altering the teeth with composite bonding
As our clinic in Hertfordshire works with some of the best cosmetic dentists in the UK, you can imagine much of what we do is repairing and spending time correcting composite bonding. Composite bonding from the outside is a very simple, straightforward procedure. Patients can improve their teeth in a few hours, leaving the same day with a fresher, whiter, more uniform smile.
No wonder it’s one of the fastest cosmetic treatments to become popular since dental veneers hit the scene. This has meant that more dentists are offering the treatment than ever before. As cosmetic dentistry isn’t special, any dentist who has completed a course can offer the treatment.
As talented cosmetic dentists here, we know that cosmetic dentistry is an art, and just as much time goes into designing your new smile as it does into repairing it.
So, just like veneers, it’s important to find a clinic where you can trust their results and processes, especially as it’s not so well publicised that not every patient is a perfect and suitable candidate for the procedure.
First, rule first, for composite bonding, you need a straight smile
For composite bonding to look as you imagine and as perfect as you see in before and afters, you need a reasonably good smile sitting underneath.
For example, you should have straight teeth for it to look right and not bulky. Patients with wonky teeth would require several lays of resin to make it look more uniform with the rest of the smile, which could result in the finished result looking too large and bulky. Pre-procedures to avoid this could include a few months of Invisalign or tooth contouring, but it’s better to straighten first.
From a long-term oral health perspective too, it’s not the healthiest option to just proceed with bonding, as it can be difficult to clean around the gum and grooves, which can become deep, meaning certain foods can get stuck, or beverages like coffee can stain, which will build up between the teeth.
Not understanding the full process
Patients can fully research the composite procedure, understanding how long it lasts and that it requires repairs and replacements to keep it fresh. Still, they’re not always well-educated about the next step: removing composite bonding.
If you’ve ever had braces, you might understand better because removing composite bonding is similar.
However, the difference with braces is that patients usually forget about the removal process because they’re excited about the results. Still, composite bonding is different because what’s remaining is what you had before.
The glue used to stick brace brackets to teeth is the same material that composite bonding is made of, so to remove the bonding, we’ll need to buff it off. You’ll feel it, but it won’t hurt.
Composite bonding might have been quick to apply, but it’s not the same when you take it off. It might require several appointments and is not designed to come off easily.
So, finding the right dentist here is ever more important because it’s far too easy to apply but not so straightforward when removing.
Cosmetic dentist Dr Teki, commenting for HelloMagazine warns that:
“I would trust more dentists to put composite onto my teeth than to remove it, and it often takes longer than applying the set in the first place.”
It’s not always obvious when you need a refresh
Patients always believe they’ll know when it’s time to remove and replace their composite bonding, knowing just by looking that it’s time for a refresh, much like the attitude we take to whitening our teeth. But this is not always the case.
While composite bonding will naturally wear away, it’s not as strong as the natural teeth, which won’t be as white as they once were. Patients tend to renew their treatment more frequently to make their teeth appear whiter again. It’s not like they will stay brand new up to year 7. But reapplying the bonding is easy and fast.
Don’t disappear
The attitude of composite bonding is quick, fast, cheap and easy, but you are making changes to your smile, and seeing as you only get one set of teeth, you shouldn’t forget about them just to improve them. If you get composite bonding, you should frequently visit the dentist for check-ups.
Failure to do so limits the life of your smile, and through regular check-ups and hygienist appointments, your bonding will last longer, and your teeth will be a lot better off because of it.