Dental fillings, also known as dental bonding and composite bonding, have been used in dentistry for many years to repair cracked, chipped and discoloured teeth.
Fillings can also be used to repair cracks and reshape teeth, resulting in a straighter, more uniform smile.
Dental fillings are an option that can be considered:
- To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
- To repair chipped or cracked teeth
- To improve the appearance of discoloured teeth
- To close spaces between teeth
- To change the shape of teeth
- To make teeth look longer
- As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
- To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums have receded
Dental bonding is one of the simplest and least expensive cosmetic dentistry treatments. Fillings may usually be completed in one office session, unlike crowns or veneers which are customised tooth coverings that must be crafted in a lab.
Although dental fillings are stain-resistant, they aren’t as stain-resistant as crowns. Another disadvantage is that the bonding materials do not endure as long or have the same strength as other restorative treatments, such as crowns and veneers. Additionally, the tooth is more vulnerable to chipping and breaking off because of bonding materials.
Due to some of the advantages and drawbacks of dental bonding, it is ideal for minor cosmetic repairs, interim repair of aesthetic flaws, and correction of teeth with low bite pressure.
Bonded teeth do not require any special care beyond the usual good oral hygiene practices. You should clean your teeth twice a day, use floss every day, and see us for routine expert check-ups and cleanings.
Because bonding material may chip, it’s wise to avoid biting fingernails, chewing on pens or ice, and using your bonded teeth as an opener. If you feel any jagged edges on a bonded tooth, or if your tooth feels odd when you bite down, please contact us.
The lifespan of fillings depends on how much work was completed, and your oral habits. Typically, though, bonding material has a lifespan of three to five years before a replacement is required.
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