Composite Bonding in Leeds

What is Composite Bonding?

Composite bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure whereby tooth-coloured composite resin is applied to the teeth to improve your teeth’s appearance. Cosmetic bonding is often used to close gaps between teeth, alter contours, and cover or mask stained teeth caused by fluorosis or congenital defects. It is often used as an alternative to crowns and veneers.

Pros & cons composite bonding

Cosmetic bonding is just one option for people looking to improve the appearance of their teeth. Like any procedure, there are pros and cons, depending on your expectations or requirements.

Advantages of composite bonding

Composite bonding is a fast and effective way of giving you the smile you desire in one single visit. Some of the pros of choosing the procedure include:

• Painless: Unlike other cosmetic procedures, you don’t need to go under general anaesthesia or have painkilling injections – it is painless and non-invasive.
• Good value: As a non-invasive procedure, cosmetic bonding is simpler and better value than other more complex cosmetic dental procedures.
• Convenient: Cosmetic bonding procedures are much faster than other options. The whole process takes between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the number of teeth being treated.
• Repairable: Made from a durable resin, it is easily repairable when the bonding wears or breaks. 
• Realistic: As it is bonded to your existing teeth, you retain much of their existing structure. The resin used in composite bonding is also translucent, giving teeth a more natural, realistic look than other types of cosmetic dentistry.

Cons of composite bonding

While a great value choice for many, cosmetic bonding is not always right for everyone – especially if you want something very long-lasting. Some of the cons of cosmetic bonding include:

• Durability: While cosmetic bonding can last years when done by a professional, resin can chip or crack over time if not looked after correctly. Other procedures, like veneers, are more expensive but can last much longer.
• Staining: The resin used in cosmetic bonding is more prone to staining than other alternatives like porcelain veneers, so you should always be careful to limit stain-causing foods and drinks like red wine and coffee and clean your teeth well.
• Limited scope: As the procedure bonds resin to your existing teeth, there is limited scope as to how much can be done depending on the health and state of your teeth.
• Quality differences: The quality of your cosmetic bonding depends significantly on the dentist you choose. You should always choose professionals like us to ensure your bonding looks great and lasts.
• Maintenance: As bonding can discolour or degrade over time, you may require maintenance in future to ensure you maintain a consistent smile.

Our Process

A relatively simple procedure, cosmetic bonding is performed in six steps:

1. Dental exam: We will examine your teeth and gums, discuss your smile goals, and ensure your teeth are eligible for the procedure.
2. Choose your shade: With our guidance, you’ll choose a shade that suits your teeth and looks natural.
3. Prepare the tooth: To ensure the resin will bond to your teeth, we’ll roughen the surface of your tooth with a mild chemical agent and coat it with a bonding agent
4. Resin applied: The resin is then applied and sculpted to match your teeth. 
5. Resin hardened: The resin is then hardened using a special blue curing light.
6. Shaped and polished: Finally, your tooth is sculpted to the shape you want and polished to a brilliant finish to ensure consistency. You’re then ready to walk out the door with a beautiful new smile.

What results can I expect from composite bonding?

Cosmetic bonding can help improve your smile in many ways. Whether you’ve had an accident or you’ve never liked the shape or colour of your teeth, the procedure can help to give you:

• More consistent tooth shape: If you’ve always been self-conscious about a misshapen tooth, cosmetic bonding offers a fast solution without invasive surgery or braces.
• Longer teeth: Cosmetic bonding can be used to lengthen short teeth and provide a solution to broken teeth.
• Smaller gaps: The procedure can also help to widen teeth and reduce gaps.
• Improved discolouration: Whether it is one discoloured tooth or multiple, cosmetic bonding can also improve discolouration alongside reshaping. It may also be done alongside whitening of other teeth.

Some examples of our composite bonding treatments below: