Are you feeling unsatisfied with how your teeth look, but fear that it is not within your budget to correct the problem?  If so, the answer to your problem may be dental bonding. It can be used to fix teeth that are discolored, uneven, or chipped.  In addition, bonding can even be used to fix individual teeth. Here is what you need to know about dental bonding if you are on the fence about having the procedure done.

The Procedure

The procedure of dental bonding involves applying a resin to a tooth's surface. In order to get the resin to stick to the tooth, the smooth enamel of the tooth is roughed up a little to make it easy for the resin to adhere to. The bonding resin can be used to make the tooth look wider or taller, fill in a part that has been chipped off, or mask the color.  This is due to your dentist's ability to change the color of the resin so that it matches the surrounding teeth.

When the resin has been formed into the desired shape, a special light is used to harden the resin so it doesn't change shape. The dentist will then smooth off rough parts of the tooth to give it the finishing touches.

The Advantages

Using dental bonding will not cause any additional damage to a tooth, so it will remain healthy. For instance, dental veneers actually involve removing the enamel layer, which is irreversible once it is done.  While bonding will require the surface to be rough, you won't lose the protective layer of enamel.

The process of dental bonding isn't painful either. This means that you won't need to have anesthesia performed before the procedure, which will save on the total costs of dental bonding. If you fear the needle used to administer anesthesia, know that you will be able to avoid this uncomfortable part of going to the dentist for bonding.

Expect the entire bonding process to be very quick as well.  You'll likely have all of the bonding completed in just one office visit, which is quite different from getting crowns or veneers that require a return visit.

The Disadvantages

Dental bonding isn't suitable for a large cosmetic repairs, which is where veneers come into play. Meet with your dentist about if your cosmetic problems make you a good candidate for dental bonding, or if there is another procedure they recommend.

If you are interested in dental bonding, talk with a dentist in your area.