Dental Bonding FAQs

Does dental bonding look different from porcelain veneers?
Yes. Dental bonding is white and tooth-like, but not translucent. This means that it doesn’t reflect light like natural tooth enamel or dental porcelain. Dr. Ragnell will choose a shade of bonding that closely matches your natural tooth color and contour your bonding so that it looks realistic. There’s an artistic aspect to much of cosmetic dentistry, and Dr. Ragnell is skilled at creating natural-looking restorations.

How long dental bonding last?
That depends in part on your dental hygiene practices and diet. Bonding can last from 3 to 10 years, but it does tend to stain a little, unlike porcelain. However, bonding can often be polished to its original shade, or slightly reduced and then resurfaced. Bonding also chips and cracks more easily than porcelain. But then again, repairs are easy, too. Your cosmetic dentist can fix problems like small chips, instead of replacing the entire bonded piece.

What are the advantages of dental bonding?
Dental bonding costs less than porcelain veneers and can be completed in a single visit to our Plano office. Veneers take about three visits to design and place, and you have to wear temporaries for a week or two. Bonding requires less tooth enamel removal than porcelain veneers. And, no anesthetic is needed for bonding, unless it’s being done to fill a cavity.

What are the disadvantages of dental bonding?
Bonding doesn’t resist staining as well as porcelain because it’s plastic-based rather than ceramic-based. It’s also not as strong as other restorative materials and can chip or crack, depending on how many hard and crunchy foods you eat and whether you chew on things such as pens or ice. Bonding doesn’t cover the entire tooth the way a crown does. Instead, it supplements the tissue that’s already there.

How should I care for my bonded tooth?
Bonded teeth require no special care beyond the daily flossing and brushing. You could compromise your bonding by eating a lot of hard foods or chewing on hard objects, so it’s best to avoid those practices. The same substances that stain natural teeth will discolor bonding: tobacco, coffee, red wine, cola drinks, and black tea. So stay away from them if you can. Regular checkups are wise, too, both for your bonded and natural teeth.