How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?

Dental bonding is a procedure dentists use that can improve the look of their patients’ smiles and improve damaged teeth.

What is Tooth Bonding?

Tooth bonding is a procedure where the dentist adds volume to a tooth to change its shape, size, and/or appearance. To do this, the dental professional will drill the undesirable section of the tooth and apply a conditioning liquid to ensure the bonding agent will have a proper surface to adhere to. If the dental professional believes comfort during this stage may be an issue, they may opt to numb the affected area beforehand, but this is not always the case. After applying and shaping the resin, an ultraviolet light is exposed to the area to harden the resin. Once hardened, the dentist may need to shape the tooth to match the patient’s bite. Since the material is typically tooth-colored, the resin should either match or whiten the look of the patient’s teeth.

Those to likely benefit from tooth bonding include:

  1. Those who want to improve the cosmetic appearance of their smile
  2. Those with chipped or fractured teeth
  3. Those who grind their teeth (also known as bruxism)
  4. Those who have an exposed tooth root that needs to be covered

Insurance companies may or may not cover the procedure if it’s only for cosmetic reasons.

Dental Veneers

One popular alternative to the tooth bonding discussed above is to bond an artificial tooth made of porcelain or composite material to your natural tooth, known as a veneer. These are similar to crowns, but don’t require as much removal of the natural tooth for bonding. While veneers help remedy many of the same issues as tooth bonding, a dental professional is required to determine if they’re a good fit for each patient’s issues. In addition, there are factors the patient should consider as well, such as the increased cost that veneers require relative to tooth bonding.

How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?

The materials used for tooth bonding typically last between three to ten years, depending on the oral health and hygiene of the patient. Steps to properly care for teeth with dental bonding include:

  1. Avoid chewing hard material such as ice or non-food items like pens and fingernails
  2. Clean between one’s teeth once a day using floss, a flossing device, or an interdental brush
  3. Using a soft-bristled brush, non-abrasive toothpaste that contains fluoride, and a gentle brushing technique for two minutes twice a day when cleaning one’s teeth
  4. Consume a healthy diet by avoiding overly sugary and acidic foods and beverages
  5. Quit smoking and using tobacco products
  6. Avoid teeth-staining foods and beverages to avoid discoloring the bonding material
  7. Avoid teeth-grinding by taking steps to stop the habit and/or wear a guard
  8. Visit a dental professional regularly

Tooth bonding is a common procedure to alter one’s smile and/or fix a damaged tooth. By seeking out the advice of a dental professional, one can see if tooth bonding is right for them or if they’ll need other procedures, such as dental veneers.

Related Article: What?s the Difference Between Dental Bonding and Veneers?