Direct bonding

When you look at your smile in pictures or in the mirror, are your eyes drawn to little flaws in your teeth? Perhaps they aren’t “serious enough” to be treated with porcelain veneers, but you still would like to fix them. Well, at Thrive Dental and Orthodontics, we proudly offer a cosmetic treatment that can help you have more confidence in your smile’s appearance—direct bonding.

What is direct bonding?

Direct bonding is a cosmetic procedure in which a flexible, biocompatible material is adhered to a tooth to improve its appearance by changing its shape and color. Consisting of the same material that is used for tooth-colored fillings—composite resin—direct bonding can provide a fast, natural-looking aesthetic update, usually in one appointment. Because composite resin bonds so well to tooth enamel and can be shaded to match its color, direct bonding can be practically invisible. All you’ll see is the smile you’ve always wanted.

What does direct bonding fix?

In addition to restoring a tooth to health by filling cavities, the composite resin material used in direct bonding can address many cosmetic problems, including the following:

• Chipped or cracked teeth.
• Small gaps between teeth.
• Misshapen teeth.
• Small teeth.
• Discolored teeth.

If you aren’t keen on the idea of porcelain veneers, which requires removing a small portion of enamel and waiting for your veneer to be created, this more conservative yet very effective cosmetic solution can help you resolve these minor problems with your smile.

What can I expect when I get direct bonding?

When you and one of our experienced dentists have determined that direct bonding is the right cosmetic choice for you, the process will go as follows:

• Your dentist will find the shade of your teeth on a shade guide so that the bonding will match your enamel’s color.
• They will then roughen the surface of your tooth and apply a conditioning liquid to help the composite resin stick to your tooth better.
• Then, they apply, sculpt, and smooth the putty-like material into the desired form.
• A special curing light is then used to make the resin harden quickly and bond to the tooth.
• To finish off, your dentist will make any necessary final adjustments and polish the material so that it looks just like your enamel.
• It’s that simple. In under an hour, the small flaws in your teeth could be gone, leaving you with a more confident smile.

How can I make direct bonding last?

As with every other kind of dental work, your direct bonding will last longer the better you take care of it. As a result, you need to make sure that you’re maintaining healthy oral habits, such as brushing and flossing daily and visiting our dental office every six months for checkups and cleanings. But there are other more specific things you can do to make your direct bonding last longer, including the following:

Avoid foods or drinks that stain, including smoking. Compared to porcelain veneers, direct bonding doesn’t resist stains as well.
Don’t bite your nails or chew on hard things, like ice, pencils, or popcorn kernels.

We want you to look at your smile and love what you see. The first step is scheduling a consultation with one of our dentists. Contact us today to get started!