Teeth Bonding for Gaps Between Your Front Teeth

Many people have a condition known as diastema: a gap between two of their teeth. Among those with diastema, it is most common to find this gap between the two front teeth. While there’s usually no health-related reason to close this gap, many people still desire to do so for cosmetic reasons. One option to minimize this gap is to use tooth bonding.

What is Teeth Bonding?

Teeth bonding is a cosmetic dental treatment that involves the dentist sculpting a tooth-colored composite resin onto a tooth. This procedure can resolve a multitude of issues, ranging from a chipped or cracked tooth to more cosmetic reasons like discoloration or a gap.

The procedure can usually be done in one visit and is often straightforward. The first step is to roughen the surface of the tooth you want to apply resin to so that the material will adequately stick to it. If the gap is severe enough, the dentist may opt to numb the area for comfort.

Applying the Material

Once a tooth is prepped for the procedure, the dental professional will apply the composite resin bonding directly onto the tooth. The material has a putty-like consistency, which allows the dentist to shape and mold the resin while it’s in the patient’s mouth. Once the resin is in the desired shape, an ultraviolet light is applied to harden the bonding in place. From there, the dentist then polishes the hardened resin to prevent it from irritating the inside of the patient’s lips. The procedure is concluded once this step is completed.

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Bonding?

Tooth bonding is a straightforward procedure to close a gap for cosmetic reasons, but it’s not a substitute for orthodontic treatment. If a patient is suffering from a large enough gap in their teeth or other dental problems in addition to the gap, such as crooked or crowded teeth or a misaligned bite, other procedures may be necessary. These procedures include braces, veneers, implants, and surgery. If your standard dentist thinks these procedures are necessary, they may recommend you visit an orthodontist who specializes in these types of procedures.

Is Teeth Bonding Right for You?

Even when a dentist recommends teeth bonding to close a gap, the patient has a few things to consider before going through with the procedure. One issue is that the bonding material is porous. For patients who smoke cigarettes or drink coffee regularly, this means that the bonding material may stain and take on a yellow appearance. If this is a concern for a patient, a dental professional may instead recommend using a porcelain veneer, which doesn’t stain as easily.

Another consideration is that composite resin breaks more easily than our natural teeth, as the material isn’t as strong. This can be a concern for patients who bite their fingernails or chew on pens. Even if this is not the case, it’s still recommended to avoid biting down on hard and sticky foods with teeth that have had resin added to them. Doing so may shorten the ten-year lifespan of the bonding material.

Despite these considerations, teeth bonding is a straightforward and simple solution to diastema that patients should speak with their dentists about.

Related Article: How Much Does Dental Bonding Cost?