Dental Services
Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic Dental Bonding in Ballwin MO
At some point in your life, you may become unhappy with the appearance of your teeth. For instance, you may notice a gap between your front incisors or a tooth with a chip.
If so, you might be interested in a treatment called cosmetic dental bonding. The procedure involves adding tooth-colored composite resins to your existing dentition, modifying the shape to create a more beautiful smile. Patients benefit from this treatment to correct all kinds of issues, from chips to gaps, making it one of the most versatile smile improvement interventions available.
What Is Cosmetic Dental Bonding?
Cosmetic dental bonding gets its name because it uses putty that “bonds” or fuses with the teeth.
Dr. Kevin F. Postol carefully applies and shapes the bonding agent - a type of resin - smoothing and styling it to match the surrounding teeth' color and shape.
Bonding is great for correcting a host of issues you may have with the appearance of your teeth. These include:
-
Dental fractures. Dental fractures typically occur following teeth grinding or chewing too hard on food. Dr. Postol often uses cosmetic dental bonding to restore teeth in situations where most patients would have no choice but to use a crown.
-
Tooth length issues. Some teeth can appear shorter than others, either because they failed to emerge sufficiently or experienced an injury. Dr. Postol uses dental bonding to lengthen individual teeth to match the surrounding dentition, improving the overall appearance of your smile.
-
Chipped teeth. Chipped teeth are common and usually result from chewing, grinding, or natural weaknesses in the teeth. Dental bonding replaces any missing material, restoring the tooth's visual appearance, improving how it functions in the mouth.
-
Recessed gums. Some patients also visit Dr. Postol for cosmetic dental bonding to improve the appearance of recessed gums. The composite bonding agent reshapes the teeth, helping to reduce signs of wear and tear.
Cosmetic dental bonding sessions begin with a comprehensive examination of your teeth. Dr. Postol and the team carefully check for cavities, fractures, and other possible issues to ensure that you’re ready for the procedure.
Once we complete preliminary checks, we will clean your teeth and apply an etching substance - a type of surface preparation to ensure that the bonding adheres correctly.
The next step involves color-matching the bonding agent to your teeth. When the resin arrives, it is white. Dr. Postol and the team dye it to coordinate with the rest of your smile before applying it.
The next step is to paint it on your teeth, a process that differs according to your needs. For chips, we may only need to apply a tiny amount of bonding agent. For gaps, we usually have to use much more.
Once we apply the resin, we leave it to cure. In this context, the curing stage involves waiting thirty to sixty seconds for the bonding agent to dry and harden. Then we apply the finishing touches, including filing each treated tooth, cleaning, and polishing them.
By the end of the process, your treated teeth should look the same as the rest of the teeth in your mouth. Modern cosmetic dental bonding agents mimic the appearance of natural teeth almost perfectly, allowing you to wear your smile with confidence.
The Benefits Of Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is one of the most popular
cosmetic dentistry options designed to improve your smile. But why?
Minimal Discomfort
Cosmetic dental bonding causes minimal patient discomfort - if any at all. Unlike other smile restoration techniques, it doesn’t require invasive procedures, such as debriding, drilling, or extraction. For most patients, it merely involves applying resin to the mouth and gently shaping it with professional tools. The use of local anesthetics or topical numbing cream is rare.
No Special Care Required
The second benefit of dental bonding is that patients do not need to apply particular care. You can continue brushing and flossing in the usual way since the bonding agent acts as an extension of your existing enamel. Eating a healthy diet and seeing Dr. Postol regularly is all you need to do to keep your new smile looking great.
Long-Lasting
In the past, dentists considered dental bonding a temporary intervention designed to shore-up your smile until you were ready for an
implant or crown. Today, though, resin technology advances mean that the average dental bonding procedure has an impressive lifespan. With the right care, patients can expect it to last upwards of a decade without any need to return to the dentist for a second or third application. Please note that you may require “touch-ups” if you neglect to maintain adequate oral hygiene or grind your teeth at night.
Custom-Shaped To Your Mouth
Unlike some dental procedures, cosmetic dental bonding is not one-size-fits-all. Instead, Dr. Postol carefully crafts the resin to complement the natural shape of your dentition. Patients get a personalized experience every time - beautiful bonding work explicitly designed for them.
There’s no waiting around for prosthetics or crowns to come back from the lab either. Both application and curing of the bonding agent occur during a single session, allowing patients to eat as they normally would as soon as they get home.
Natural Looking
Cosmetic dental bonding is an advanced technique that looks completely natural. When Dr. Postol applies the bonding to your teeth, he uses a natural dye to ensure that the bonding material's color and texture precisely match the existing dentition. Thus, any work you have done will complement the rest of your smile.
Schedule An Appointment
If you have gaps, chips, or fractures in your teeth and are considering restoration, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Postol and his team. They can evaluate your situation and discuss various options with you, including cosmetic dental bonding. Please
contact us today to improve the appearance of your smile and boost your self-confidence.
Request My Appointment
