According to Wikipedia, Dental Bonding, or
Adhesive Dentistry, is a restorative cosmetic dental technique that your
dentist uses to bond tooth colored resin in order to repair gaps and cracks.
Dental Bonding can also be used to replace silver amalgam fillings and fill
cavities.
When you schedule an appointment with your San Diego Dentist, Dr. David Kitchen will determine if you are a good candidate for
Dental Bonding. You will need to have healthy teeth and gums before your
dentist proceeds with Dental Bonding.
When Dr. Michael Buonocore wrote a paper on
the benefits of adhesive dentistry and acid etching it revolutionized modern cosmetic
dentistry. Although Dental Bonding technology has changed over the years, it is
the work by Dr. Buonocore that began the evolution of acid etching products.
In 1979, Dr. Irwin Smigel broadened the use of
Dental Bonding by using it to close the gaps in-between teeth. Dr. Smigel also
used Dental Bonding to re-contour the mouth using Dental Bonding instead of
crowns. During this time, he also used Dental Bonding to lengthen teeth that
were too short.
If you are deemed a good candidate for Dental
Bonding, your dentist will choose a resin color that best matches the tooth or
teeth. After the color has been selected, your dentist will etch or abrade the
surface so that the tooth will bond. After the etching, your dentist will apply
a conditioning liquid so that the resin can adhere. Once the tooth or teeth
have been prepared, your dentist will apply a very durable plastic tooth
colored resin material before molding and smoothing it into the proper shape.
Once satisfied, your dentist will cure the Dental Bond with a blue light or
laser. After the resin has hardened, your dentist will shape and trim before
polishing it to match the rest of the surface on the tooth.
No preparation is required for Dental Bonding, and unless it is being used for a filling, no anesthetic is required. Dental
Bonding takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete per tooth and may require additional
visits if more than one tooth is being bonded.