Dental Bonding Yarmouth, ME

Dental bonding is a restorative procedure used to replace fractured or missing pieces of enamel, typically at the neck of the tooth (near the gum line).  These missing pieces of enamel are usually a result of clenching/grinding and a night guard is recommended following restoration of these areas to increase longevity of the new restoration.

How does dental bonding work?The tooth is prepared for dental bonding by beveling the enamel layer with a diamond bur, followed by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid. Once the liquid sets, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed and polished to a natural appearance.

Considerations for Dental Bonding

The bonding procedure can often be completed in a single office visit, and can improve the appearance of a tooth significantly. However, since the plastic resin used is not as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is more likely to stain, chip or break than natural teeth if a night guard is not worn following treatment (if original lesion is cause by clenching/grinding).