Cosmetic bonding, also known as dental bonding, is a process that has been widely used for years by dentists to repair minor damage to teeth and restore the appearance of a smile in only one visit. The process involves the use of tooth-coloured resin applied to the damage area which is moulded to the desired shape and set hard by a laser. Because of its pliability and versatility, cosmetic bonding is used for a wide variety of dental treatments.
One of the most common uses for dental bonding is as material for filling cavities. Dental cavities used to be filled using a material made of silver and mercury amalgam. This was very durable but over recent years has caused great controversy about its safety. Several studies have shown that silver amalgam fillings release mercury vapours that may be very damaging to the body. Silver amalgam fillings are also very aesthetically unpleasant so many patients and dentists have switched to white dental bonding. For very large fillings it may not be suitable to use dental bonding as it is weaker in larger amounts, but a dentist may be able to use a combination of bonding and a ceramic inlay.
Cosmetic bonding is also commonly used to repair chips and cracks in teeth. The resin bonding needs to be skilfully sculpted by the dentist before it is hardened using the extreme heat of the laser. Before application, the dentist will usually thoroughly clean the area before etching the enamel to allow for a greater degree of grip for the bonding resin. The bonding is often applied in several thin layers of one to two millimetres to allow for satisfactory setting. Once the bonding is activated and hardened by the laser it can then be buffed and polished by the dentist to more closely resemble tooth enamel.
Nearly all dentists offer cosmetic bonding as standard although some will specialise more in the procedure. Bonding is an extremely useful dental process that is simple and affordable and can be used to restore the appearance of broken, decayed or discoloured teeth in a single afternoon. A dentist in Leeds will be able to offer cosmetic bonding to treat any dental problem you may be experiencing or simply to replace old amalgam fillings for your peace of mind.
Cosmetic bonding is one of the most easily affordable and useful of the cosmetic dentistry procedures. It has a wide variety of uses but is particularly useful for the repair of cracked, chipped or broken teeth. It can also be used, however, for the cosmetic improvement of worn, unevenly spaced or