Dental bonding and cosmetic veneering are cost-effective cosmetic dental restorations for front teeth. The best use for bonding is to repair slightly chipped, discolored, or misaligned front teeth that detract from a smile or affect normal function.
Cosmetic dental bonding procedure
Bonding involves placing tooth-colored composite material on the tooth. Composite veneering uses the same bonding agent to correct imperfections on the tooth’s facial surface.
Candidates include front teeth that are rotated, undersized, severely chipped, heavily discolored, decayed, or with failing fillings.
Cosmetic dental bonding benefits
The advantage of bonding is that it is relatively inexpensive and an ultra-conservative way to restore a tooth. Bonding will discolor eventually and is easier to break than a porcelain dental veneer or a dental crown.
It is not uncommon for a tooth or group of teeth to have a combination of these problems. Depending on the severity of the problem, composite bonding and veneering may be an option. Other options include porcelain dental veneers and dental crowns.