Composite bonding & SmileFast

Bonding can be used to repair small chips, close small gaps, even out edges or change the shape of a tooth. It changes how teeth look; it does not move them.

Bonding tends to suit small, precise changes to teeth that are otherwise healthy. Because it adds to a tooth rather than replacing any of it, it is often a sensible first step if you’d like to keep as much natural tooth as possible.

It may be less suitable, or need extra care, in some situations:

• Clenching or grinding, which can chip or wear bonding
• Noticeably crowded teeth, where straightening first may look more natural
• Large changes in size or shape, which may be more than composite can reliably achieve
• Decay or gum disease, which your dentist will usually treat first

SmileFast is a cosmetic treatment at Opal that brings more than one cosmetic procedure together into a single, planned course of treatment. Your dentist will explain exactly what it would involve for your smile, and what it would cost, before you decide.

SmileFast and bonding are different from clear aligners. Aligners such as ClearCorrect are an orthodontic treatment that gradually moves teeth into a new position.

These treatments are often mentioned together, but they do different jobs.

Bonding adds tooth-coloured composite to the surface of a tooth, usually with little or no removal of natural tooth, and it can be adjusted or repaired later. However, composite is not as hard-wearing as enamel or ceramic, so it is more likely to stain or chip over time.

Veneers are thin shells, usually ceramic and made in a dental laboratory, that cover the front of a tooth. Ceramic resists staining better and can last longer, but fitting a veneer usually means gently shaping the tooth, so it’s a longer-term commitment.

If your teeth are crowded or out of line, straightening them first with aligners such as ClearCorrect can mean less bonding is needed, or none at all, as bonding used to disguise crooked teeth can look bulky. Aligner treatment usually takes months, with retainers afterwards.

Some people combine treatments, such as aligners, then whitening, then bonding to refine the edges. Your dentist will explain whether that would make sense for you.

Your dentist will check the health of your teeth and gums, talk about what you’d like to change and explain whether bonding, SmileFast or another option would suit you best.

If you are also considering whitening, it is usually done first, because bonding material does not change colour with whitening.

As a rough guide, bonding often lasts around five years, and sometimes longer, before it needs a larger repair or replacement, with smaller touch-ups such as polishing along the way. It depends on where the bonding is, how much there is, your bite and how you look after it.

To help it last:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth
• Avoid biting pens, fingernails or ice, and don’t use your teeth to open packets
• Cut down on tea, coffee, red wine and smoking, which can stain composite
• If you clench or grind, ask your dentist whether a night guard would help
• Keep up regular check-ups and hygiene visits, where your bonding can be checked and polished

Bonding is a gentle, conservative treatment. A few things are worth knowing:

• Composite can pick up stains and lose some of its shine over time, but it can be polished
• Edges can chip, particularly on front teeth, and are usually simple to repair
• Changes are planned carefully, so your teeth look and feel natural
• Some people notice mild sensitivity afterwards, which usually settles
• Like any treatment, bonding needs a little upkeep, so allow for occasional polishing or repairs over the years