Dental Bonding

Dental bonding makes it easy to repair enamel damage or change the shape and color of a tooth. At Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces, with five offices in San Antonio and Helotes, Texas, the team of general and family dentists uses dental bonding to repair chips, cracks, pitting, and more. Call the nearest Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces office to schedule a dental bonding consultation, or request your appointment online today.

How are dental bonding and fillings different?

Dental bonding and fillings both repair damaged tooth enamel, but they take a different approach:

Dental bonding

Bonding is a cosmetic procedure that improves the appearance of one or more teeth. It uses composite tooth-colored resin to cover up minor imperfections or to change the shape, size, and color of a tooth. 

Fillings

Fillings are a type of restorative dentistry. They repair enamel damage caused by decay (cavities). 

Who can benefit from dental bonding?

The Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces team uses dental bonding to:

• Conceal chips and cracks in the teeth
• Camouflage tooth discoloration
• Make teeth look longer
• Change the shape of teeth

Sometimes, the team uses bonding to fill small gaps between the teeth or to cover up ‘black triangles’ caused by gum recession. 

How do I prepare for dental bonding?

Before recommending dental bonding, your Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces provider completes an oral exam and orders digital X-rays. You need to have healthy teeth to receive dental bonding, so if you have cavities, your dentist treats those first. Once your mouth heals, you can move forward with bonding treatment.

What does dental bonding involve?

At Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces, dental bonding is a quick procedure that takes 30-60 minutes. 

First, your dentist uses a shade guide to find a color of composite resin that matches your tooth enamel. Then, they numb your mouth with a local anesthetic and roughen the surface of your tooth, so it accepts the resin material. 

Your dentist applies the putty-like resin to your affected tooth and uses special tools to mold and shape it. Then, they point a curing light at the resin, causing it to dry and harden. 

Once the resin dries, your dentist trims off any excess material and polishes your tooth, giving it a natural shine. 

Is dental bonding painful?

Dental bonding is safe and typically well-tolerated. Treatment doesn’t involve contact with any of the nerves in your mouth, and your dentist administers a local anesthetic beforehand. 

Some people experience increased tooth sensitivity after a bonding procedure. Any discomfort should improve within a week or so, but feel free to take an over-the-counter pain medication for relief.

Call the nearest Smile Structure Dentistry and Braces office to schedule a dental bonding appointment, or request your visit online today.