Dental Bonding FAQs

What is dental bonding?

Dental bonding is a procedure that can restore, reshape and rejuvenate your teeth, improving both the function and the appearance of your smile. By applying a thin layer of tooth-colored plastic to the front of the tooth and sculpting it to the appropriate form, the dentist may use bonding to correct:

Chipped or cracked teeth
Broken or misshapen teeth
Stained teeth
Spaces between teeth

What is the composition of the dental bonding material?

The dental bonding material is a composite resin or plastic that hardens and fuses to the tooth when your dentist shines a special light on it. Once in place, the bonding material is shaped to correct the specific problem and colored to match your natural teeth, and polished until it is smooth.

What is the Dental Bonding Process?

The dentist will take the following steps when applying bonding to a patient's teeth:

Step One

An etching solution is applied to the tooth or teeth that will be receiving the bonding material. This solution gently roughens the surface of the tooth for a stronger bond between the tooth and the plastic.

Step Two

A thin layer of the bonding resin is placed on the surface of your tooth and is sealed in place using a special light. Several layers of resin may be added and hardened in turn. Each layer takes only a few minutes to harden.

Step Three

The bonding material is sculpted to the desired shape and colored to match the shade of natural teeth. Finally, the bonding material is polished until it is entirely smooth.

The dental bonding procedure takes one to two hours, and its results last about ten years.

What Types of Dental Bonding Are Available and How Long Will They Take to Apply?

Small, simple fillings can usually be completed during a single dental visit. More complex fillings may require at least two appointments, and the placement of a temporary filling while the custom-filling is created in a lab. Although custom-made porcelain fillings take longer to be manufactured, they are more natural-looking, stain-resistant and durable than ordinary bonded fillings.

What are the results of dental bonding?

Bonded teeth look and function just like natural teeth. The dental bonding material can be colored as well as molded, so it is often possible to match exact the shade of the teeth being repaired. When bonding is performed by an experienced dentist, the bonded teeth look completely natural.

Dental Implants FAQs

Dental implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function just like natural teeth. Unlike uncomfortable dentures or bridges, with permanent dental implants, patients who have lost teeth regain the ability to eat and smile with confidence.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Dental implants will:

Support replacements for one tooth, several teeth, or even all of the teeth
Deliver outstanding results in both appearance and function of the new teeth
Preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically implanted in the jawbone where the missing teeth were rooted. Over time, the titanium bonds with the bone, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts are then attached to the implant. Protruding through the gums, these posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

How long does the dental implantation process take?

The dental implant process takes place through several appointments over several months. After being implanted, titanium anchors need at least three to six months to heal. During this time, patients are fitted with dentures or individual false teeth. Once the implants have healed, natural-looking crowns can be placed on the posts.

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

The number-one requirement for dental implants is sufficient, strong bone in the area beneath the missing teeth. Without enough bone, the implants will not be able to take hold in the jaw. If you do not have the bone necessary for dental implants, your dentist may recommend bone grafting, a procedure to remove bone from elsewhere in the mouth or from the hip, or using artificial bone. In either of these cases, the bone replacement is placed in the jaw until it grows into the natural bone as a first step in the dental implant process.

Veneers FAQs

Veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells that are custom-fit and bonded to the front of the tooth to give a bright, white, and attractive smile. Commonly made of composite resin or porcelain, veneers make it possible to correct a variety of color and shape related teeth problems.

Veneers are aesthetically effective and can:

Reduce or eliminate spaces between the teeth
Repair broken or chipped teeth
Whiten dark or discolored teeth
Correct misshapen or crooked teeth
Improve the appearance of teeth that are too small, too big, or uneven

Are there different kinds of veneers?

There are two kinds of veneers:

Composite or Direct Veneers - A special plastic is molded and bonded directly to the tooth in one appointment.

Porcelain or Indirect Veneers - Thin shells are custom-made in a lab and applied to the teeth. Two appointments are required for this process: one for taking an impression, and a second for preparing the natural teeth and placing the newly created veneers.

Lumineers are a new kind of porcelain veneer. They are so thin that they don't require any tooth-buffing before placement.

What is the porcelain veneer placement process?

Step One - At the first appointment, the dentist takes an impression of the teeth so that veneers appropriate for the individual patient's smile may be created.

Step Two - During the second appointment, the natural teeth are prepared for receiving veneers by being "buffed" or "shaved" a very small amount to compensate for the added thickness of the veneers. This is done to ensure that the teeth will be the same size after the procedure as they were before.

Step Three - The dentist compares the veneers to the original teeth to confirm that they are the correct shape, size and color. The veneers are then bonded in place with the help of an etching solution and a special light.

How long will veneers last?

The veneers will last for about 10-15 years. It is often possible to "try on" your veneers first with a temporary cement to see how they will look. Ask your dentist about this option.

Why choose veneers over crowns?

Veneers offer several advantages over crowns, which may include:

Durability
Minimal removal of the natural tooth material
Stain resistance
Reasonable cost

Nima Raoufinia DDS

Lumen Dental of Tysons Corner

Patient Education

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