What Is Dental Bonding? Can It Help Me?

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Do you have chips in one of your teeth, or maybe a small gap between two teeth that you just wish wasn’t there? You may feel like there’s nothing you can do about this, but you have options.

When you visit the dentist in Jacksonville FL, ask about dental bonding. Dental bonding is a relatively simple procedure that can help you achieve your cosmetic dentistry goals and improve the appearance of your smile.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a tooth-colored resin that’s attached to the tooth enamel to hide small cosmetic defects. To install dental bonding, the dentist will select the right color of composite resin for your teeth.

Next, the dentist will rough up the surface of your tooth just a little to help the dental bonding stick. Finally, the dentist will attach the bonding and cure it with a special light. Once the bonding is cured, it can last for years if properly maintained.

Who Benefits from Dental Bonding?

You can benefit from dental bonding if you have a chip or a break in your tooth, if there is a small gap between your teeth, if your tooth is discolored (and won’t respond to dental whitening), or if you don’t like the shape of your tooth. Your dentist will want you to have healthy teeth and gums before applying dental bonding. Your dentist can tell you whether you are a good candidate for this procedure.

What Is Dental Bonding Made From?

Dental bonding is made from a composite resin that is commonly used on teeth. This is different from other materials like porcelain veneers, because it’s applied to the tooth and shaped in place, then it’s hardened through a curing process.

Is Dental Bonding Permanent?

Dental bonding is completely reversible, and won’t last forever. If you decide you like your dental bonding, you’ll need to reapply it periodically because bonding can chip off over time.

How Can I Get Dental Bonding?

If you think you’re a good candidate for dental bonding and would like to cover up a small cosmetic defect, talk to your dentist about dental bonding in Jacksonville FL. At Mandarin Dentistry, we help patients like you to achieve the look they want for their smile.

Do Dental Veneers Ruin Natural Teeth?

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Dental veneers remain a popular form of cosmetic dentistry in Jacksonville, FL, and other cities throughout the world. Even celebrities have chosen to get veneers due to the realistic look that they provide. Veneers are ideal for addressing imperfections such as permanently discolored teeth, chipped teeth, gaps, and more. Yet, some people hesitate to consider them because they think dental veneers ruin natural teeth.

How Are Dental Veneers Attached to the Teeth?

In previous years, a tooth had to be ground down, almost to a point, before attaching a dental veneer. This weakened the tooth structure. However, the tooth structure was restored with the application of the veneer. Now, dental technology has improved a great deal, and the process of attaching dental veneers to teeth has changed.

Today, a microscopic layer of enamel is removed from the tooth’s surface. This creates a surface where the adhesive can readily adhere to the tooth, allowing the dental veneer to be permanently attached. After that, the tooth (or teeth) undergo special light that “cures” the adhesive. This solidifies the bond so that the dental veneer stays safely in place while you eat, bite, speak, and so on.

Do Dental Veneers Ruin Natural Teeth?

Dental veneers are intended to be a permanent cosmetic dentistry solution. As such, they aren’t meant to be removed. A person may need to have a dental veneer replaced at some point, but they aren’t meant to be removed permanently. The removal of that thin layer of enamel can’t be reversed. At the same time, losing the enamel isn’t a problem because the veneer is the new “layer.” So, the tooth’s structure is restored, just as before, and the tooth is not ruined.

If you’d like to discuss the possibility of getting dental veneers in Jacksonville, FL, please contact Mandarin Dentistry today. We’d be happy to answer all your questions about ways to enhance your smile!