Fix Gaps Between Teeth With Dental Bonding

When two of your teeth do not touch, the resulting gap is called a diastema.  Gaps between your teeth can occur anywhere in your mouth, but it is most noticeable between the two front teeth.  It is a commonly reported in dental literature that problem and between 1.6 and 25.4 percent of Americans report that they suffer from a gap between their two front teeth.  A diastema between your front teeth is not only distracting for an otherwise healthy and balanced smile, but it can lead to emotional distress after years.  If you feel like you are one of the Americans who is suffering with this problem, you can work with your dentist to minimize or remove this space completely.

What Is Teeth Bonding

Dentist use a composite resin as a cosmetic top coating to change the shape of your teeth and even change the size of your teeth.  By making small, symmetrical adjustments on these two teeth, your dentist can sculpt your old teeth into new ones to cover the gap.  Your new incisors will have a tooth colored resin top coat that covers the hole.

In order to get you the results you are looking for, you and your dentist can discuss what you would like your new smile to look like.  Bringing in photos and examples of what your vision is will help the dentist achieve the end product for which you are aiming.  Then you and your dentist will choose the color you would like for your dental bonding cleveland tx material to match the adjoining teeth and the overall color of your smile.

The dentist will then begin the work on your teeth to prepare them for the bonding material.  The dents will etch or file the enamel of your teeth so the bonding material will adhere easily.  Then the dentist will apply a conditioning liquid to ensure the surface is tacky and ready to receive the composite resin.

Applying the Material

After your teeth are covered in the conditioning liquid, the composite resin can be applied.  The bonding material is pliable and easy for the dentist to shape into your ideal teeth with your natural teeth as a sturdy base.  Once the material is placed where and how it needs to be to match the dentist’s final vision, the dentist will set the bonding in place with a UV light or a laser.  Then the dentist will polish the material to match your other teeth and to ensure the insides of your lips are not rubbed raw.

Good Candidates

While bonding can be used to reshape teeth or even give the appearance of a straighter smile, dental bonding does not replace orthodontic treatment.  Not all diastemas can be treated with bonding alone. Your dentist will advise you if your problems are better corrected by an orthodontist.

If a small gap is your only issue, dental bonding may be the right answer as orthodontic treatment may be too extensive.

Is Teeth Bonding Right for You?

If after discussing the gap in your teeth with your dentist you two decide that your gap is best treated with dental bonding, then you should consider the last few concerns.

First, if you drink coffee regularly or smoke cigarettes, the composite resin may stain due to its more porous nature.  The stronger yellow appearance of the resin versus your natural teeth may be more noticeable in time that you would like.

Second, no material is as strong as your natural enamel.  Bonding material will not resist nail biting, ice cube crunching or pen chewing.  If these are some of your habits, you may find that you need to repair your dental bonds sooner.

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