Are you curious about how long dental bonding lasts? Here, our St. Thomas dentist reveal the answer and address questions about how the process works, financial considerations and treatment alternatives.
What is dental bonding?
During the dental bonding process, your dentist will apply tooth-coloured composite resin to your tooth surfaces, effectively repairing chips, decay, fractures or discolouration.
This material is used to fill in the gaps left by a cavity and helps to alter the appearance of your teeth to help them look longer. The appearance of your teeth before and after dental bonding may significantly change.
How long does dental bonding last?
The effects of dental bonding typically last for 4 to 8 years, and potentially longer, depending on a few factors:
- Your dietary choices
- Which areas of your mouth are bonded
- Whether you attend your regularly scheduled dental appointments (twice each year)
- How well you care for your teeth (by maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine including daily brushing and flossing)
How long your dental bonding lasts is mostly up to how well you care for your teeth. Avoid acidic or sugary foods, as these can wear on your teeth. If you enjoy fruit, brush and floss your teeth soon after so plaque or bacteria does not have the chance to grow.
Also avoid chewing ice, hard candy, grinding your teeth or biting down too hard, all of which can chip the bonding material.
Of course, keeping up a consistent routine of oral hygiene is the most important thing. The healthier your natural teeth around your bonding stays, the longer your dental restoration will last.
What are the benefits of dental bonding?
If you choose dental bonding to change the appearance of your smile, you may experience the following benefits:
Cost-effective: Dental bonding is generally considered to be a cost-effective alternative to more extensive cosmetic dental procedures such as crowns, bridges and veneers.
Changes appearance of teeth: Dental bonding can help adjust the colour and shape of your teeth for symmetrical, cohesive look.
Long-lasting: As long as you care for your smile properly, you can expect the effects of dental bonding to last for 4 to 8 years, or longer in some cases.
Non-invasive: As far as cosmetic treatments go, dental bonding is relatively non-invasive and you won't require any recovery time.
Quick treatment: We can usually perform the procedure in just one visit.
What does dental bonding cost?
Patients who come to see us for dental bonding procedures are often concerned about the cost of the procedure. Your specific cost will depend on a few different factors.
- The number of teeth being repaired
- Your location – costs may change depending on which city and dental practice performs the procedure
- Scope of work, location and size of the areas of the mouth being bonded
- How much of the procedure is covered by insurance (this may depend on whether your issue is primarily structural or cosmetic)