Dental Bonding in La Jolla, CA

Are you looking for a way to improve your smile in La Jolla, CA? Dental bonding, or cosmetic bonding, is an easy and affordable procedure that can give you the picture-perfect smile you’ve been dreaming of. This procedure involves using a composite material that is applied to the surface of your teeth to cover up chips, cracks, and discoloration. With dental bonding, you can get the results you want quickly and easily, with minimal downtime.

What is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding, also known as composite bonding, is a quick and effective way to improve the appearance of your teeth. It involves applying a composite material directly to your tooth, allowing our La Jolla dentist to sculpt and shape it to match your existing teeth. This procedure is frequently used to address cosmetic issues such as small chips or stains, or to fill in tiny gaps between teeth. The process is fast, with most bonding procedures taking only 30 minutes to an hour. It provides an immediate difference in your smile and results that can last for years with proper care. Dental bonding can be a great option for those looking for a quick and cost-effective way to improve the look of their smile.

Structurally speaking, dental bonding is almost identical to having a white filling placed. The only difference is that bonding is used over healthy tooth structures for cosmetic purposes, while white fillings are used to repair areas of active decay. As such, bonding is considered an elective cosmetic treatment.

Reasons to Consider Cosmetic Dental Bonding

Bonding is a fast treatment time and cost-effective cosmetic dental treatment compared to other popular aesthetic procedures like veneers, clear aligners, or whitening. The immediate results allow you to make a significant improvement in your smile without the need for multiple appointments or a large overall investment. Some of the situations where you may want to consider La Jolla dental bonding involve:

• Chipped tooth enamel
• Small gaps between teeth
• An uneven or misshaped tooth
• Atypical tooth surfaces (i.e., pitted enamel)
• Tenacious, localized stain

If you have one or two specific teeth that detract from your smile’s appearance, then dental bonding is an excellent treatment to consider. Because it’s discreet and localized to certain teeth, we can erase those areas from plain view and essentially enhance your overall appearance. The material is closely matched to your healthy enamel so that no one should be able to tell there’s anything on your tooth.

Compared to more dramatic smile makeovers, teeth bonding is one of the fastest and most affordable treatments for a “problem” tooth requiring cosmetic attention.

The Dental Bonding Procedure: What to Expect

The tooth bonding procedure is relatively simple and straightforward. Typically, the process begins with our dentist using a shade guide to help match the composite resin to the color of your existing teeth. Next, the tooth is gently etched or sometimes slightly adjusted with an instrument to prepare the surface where the bonding will adhere properly. Rarely is numbing needed, as bonding is a non or minimally-invasive process. However, if you have hypersensitive teeth or a large chip in your tooth, we can use local anesthetic to numb that tooth before repairing it.

Next, the bonding material is then carefully applied to the surface of the tooth, molded, and shaped to give it a natural look and texture. Finally, our La Jolla dentist will cure the material with a special light and make any necessary adjustments. In total, the tooth bonding process usually takes about 30-60 minutes per tooth at most, depending on the complexity of the case.

Because of the non-invasive nature of bonding, no recovery time is needed, and you can return to your normal routine immediately after the procedure.

Maintenance of Composite Bonding

Because the composite material used in tooth bonding is strong and durable, it can last anywhere from 3-10 years with proper maintenance and care. Occasional updates or replacements will eventually be needed, as stains can accumulate around the edges of the composite material (similar to white fillings.) Biting anything hard could cause the bonding to break off, so it’s not recommended that you use these teeth when biting into firmer textures of foods, such as apples or carrots.

If you tend to clench and grind your teeth, we recommend wearing a bite splint or nightguard. These appliances will protect your restorations and the health of your teeth, reducing the cost of your long-term oral health needs.

Be sure to brush and floss around each of your teeth daily, including those with dental bonding, to prevent decay from developing around the restoration.

How Much Does Cosmetic Tooth Bonding Cost?

Teeth bonding is an affordable cosmetic dental procedure that provides beautiful results for those looking to improve their smile. Like white fillings, dental bonding uses a composite material, which is matched to your natural tooth color to create a seamless, aesthetic look. There are no extra lab fees, as you might see with veneers. The cost of tooth bonding can vary depending on the complexity of the procedure, but on average, it costs around $100 to $600 per tooth. This makes it one of the most affordable cosmetic dentistry options available. As a budget-friendly option, getting a tooth bonded can play a huge role in your smile’s overall appearance without more comprehensive treatments (like veneers or whitening.)

Most bonding treatments are solely cosmetic, so they usually are not covered by your dental insurance. However, some exceptions apply, such as repairing chipped teeth in dental emergencies, which may be included in your plan.

Depending on the area and extent of bonding, as well as how many teeth are getting bonded, you can choose to break the payments up into smaller, affordable monthly installments.

Dental Bonding at Harmony Dental Group

Cosmetic tooth bonding can be a great option for achieving a picture-perfect smile.  With cosmetic dental bonding, you can restore your smile’s appearance and gain increased confidence in your appearance. Consult with our dentist in La Jolla, CA to determine if tooth bonding is the best option for your needs. Contact Harmony Dental Group today to get started.

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Questions Answered on This Page

• What is Dental Bonding?
• Reasons to Consider Cosmetic Dental Bonding
• The Dental Bonding Procedure: What to Expect
• Maintenance of Composite Bonding
• How Much Does Cosmetic Tooth Bonding Cost?

Related Topics

• Dental Veneers
• Teeth Whitening
• Composite Fillings
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Smile Makeover

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Hear From Our Patients

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Helpful links: WebMD (Teeth Bonding) | ADA (Glossary of Dental Terms)