Working With A Great Dentist
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Working With A Great Dentist

I have always been one of those people who loves to get out into the world and talk with other people, but a few years ago, I realized that I had to do something about my smile. My teeth were yellow and unattractive, and it was really discouraging to see how much different my smile was. I knew that I needed to get my teeth fixed, so I started working with a professional dentist to make things right. Within a few short months, my smile was completely transformed, and I knew that I owed it all to my dental professional. Check out this blog for more information about working with a dentist.

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Working With A Great Dentist

Information On Dental Bonding For Chipped Teeth

Harper Hughes

A chipped or broken tooth, especially if it is one of the front teeth, can affect your confidence and make you uncomfortable to smile. Fortunately, there is a way to have it fixed quickly and generally in a single office visit to your dentist. The procedure is called dental bonding, and the following guide will help you better understand how it's done and what concerns you may have once the procedure is complete. 

The bonding process

Dental bonding, sometimes called composite bonding, uses a tooth-colored resin to fill in the missing portion of your tooth. The procedure is relatively straightforward: 

  • First, your dentist will roughen up the smooth surfaces of your tooth with a file. This is because the resin bonds better to a rough surface.

  • They will then mix the resin, carefully matching it to the color of your natural teeth.

  • The resin is then smoothed onto the tooth, where your dentist proceeds to mold it and shape it until it resembles a natural tooth.

  • Using a special light device, your dentist will quickly cure and harden the resin so it is permanently affixed to the tooth.

  • Final shaping now takes place, with your dentist using files and grinders to shape the tooth perfectly.

  • The finishing touch is polishing the new bonded tooth so it matches the sheen of the surrounding natural teeth.

Bonded tooth concerns

Although a bonded tooth looks natural, it isn't so it does have some special care requirements. One of the most pressing concerns is staining. The resin used for bonding is not stain-proof, which means it can become discolored if you aren't careful. The same things that stain your real tooth will stain the bonded tooth, including cigarettes, coffee and tea, red wine, and soda. Brushing regularly and going in for regular cleanings can help minimize staining concerns, or you can avoid eating items that lead to stains.

Floss can also be problematic since it can slip into any thin gaps between the bond and your tooth, loosening the bond. Floss with a back and forth motion as opposed to an up and down motion to avoid this problem.

This final concern mainly only applies to front teeth that have bonds. Biting into hard foods, such as an apple, or using the teeth as tools can crack or dislodge a bond.

If you are interested in bonds or are concerned about one of your bonded teeth, contact a dentist (such as one from Cobbe Dental & Orthodontics) in your area for more help.


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