If you are unhappy with your teeth and want to work with your cosmetic dentist to enhance the appearance of your smile, then you will have many different options available to you. These options include things like bonding. You may have heard of bonding, but know very little about the process or what it can do to help your teeth. If you want some answers to a few common bonding questions, then keep reading.

What Is Bonding?

Dental bonding is very similar to the process used by dentists to create and shape a composite or resin filling. Basically, a dental compound is placed on the tooth and then hardened in place. The result is a nearly invisible tooth restoration. 

Like the name suggests, the compound is bonded or adhered to your natural tooth material. This helps to create a seamless and natural appearance to the restoration. Also, your dentist will use coloring pigments within the resin that matches the shade of your teeth. This helps to keep the bonded part of your tooth from looking multiple shades whiter than the rest of your tooth. 

In most cases, your dentist will need to shape or mold the resin with the help of a flat-headed dental tool. Multiple layers of the resin will need to be spread on the tooth and then hardened. Also, your dentist will use your input to make sure there are no high spots or sharp edges around the bonding material. 

Does Bonding Require Special Preparation?

Most people will learn about certain types of dental restoration methods that require at least a small amount of tooth preparation. Veneers and crowns both require the removal of tooth enamel beforehand. This means that the restorations damage your teeth and cannot be reversed once they are implemented. This can be a drawback for many patients, even if the restorations are long lasting.

While dental bonding is a temporary fix that may need to be repeated several years down the road, the treatment does not require any major preparation. This means that your teeth will retain their strength, but they will look better after the bonding compound has hardened.

Your dentist will need to use an acid on your tooth. This etches the enamel a small amount so the resin can cling to the tooth. It is necessary for the adhesion but has very little effect on the overall condition of your tooth. 

You should keep in mind that bonding is only appropriate for smaller chips, cracks, gaps, and other mild conditions. If you have a large flaw that needs to be addressed, then your dentist may suggest the placement of a crown instead. For more information, check out websites like http://www.drclschneiderdentalcare.com.