Are you curious about how long dental bonding lasts? Our North Sydney dentists reveal the answer here as well as address questions about how the process works, financial considerations and alternative treatments.
What is dental bonding?
During the dental bonding process, your dentist will apply a tooth-coloured resin to the surfaces of your teeth, repairing fractures, decay, chips and discoloration.
This material helps to fill gaps left by a cavity, can help improves the appearance of your teeth and can make them appear longer. Needless to say, the appearance of your teeth before and after dental bonding can change significantly.
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:
- Which areas of your mouth are bonded
- Your dietary choices
- 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)
The length of time your detal bonding will last mostly depends on how attentively you care for your teeth. Avoid sugary and acidci foods since these can wear on your teeth. If you enjoy fruit make sure you floss and brush your teeth soon after so you can avoid the buidlup of plaque and bacteria.
Also avoid chewing ice, hard candy, grinding your teeth or biting down too hard, all of which can chip the bonding material.
And of course, maintaining a consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine is of utmost importance. The healthier the natural tooth material around the bonding material remains, the longer the restoration will last.
What are the benefits of dental bonding?
If you choose dental bonding to improve the appearance of your smile, you may experience the following benefits:
Changes appearance of teeth: Dental bonding can help adjust the colour and shape of your teeth for symmetrical, cohesive look.
Non-invasive: When comapred to other cosmetic dental treatments, dental bonding is relatively non-invasive and won't require any recovery time.
Quick treatment: We can usually perform the procedure in just one visit.
Cost-effective: Dental bonding is commonly held to be a cost-effective alternative to more extensive cosmteic dental procedures liem bridges, veneers and crowns.
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.
What does dental bonding cost?
Patients who come to us for dental bonding procedures are often concerned about cost. Your specific cost will depend on a few factors:
- The number of teeth being repaired
- Scope of work, location and size of the areas of the mouth being bonded
- Your location – costs may change depending on which city and dental practice performs the procedure
- How much of the procedure is covered by insurance (this may depend on whether your issue is primarily structural or cosmetic)