For What Conditions Is Dental Bonding Considered?

What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth to restore or improve person’s smile.

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:

To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recede

To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)

To repair chipped or cracked teeth

To improve the appearance of discolored teeth

To close spaces between teeth

To make teeth look longer

To change the shape of teeth

As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings

What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth

Teeth that are worn down

Teeth that are chipped or broken

Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)

Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

How to Prevent Tooth Erosion

Tooth erosion can cause mild dental problems, from tooth discoloration to sensitivity to more severe dental problems, such as indentions in the teeth, severe tooth sensitivity, and even cracked teeth.

Tooth erosion can do severe damage to your teeth, but it can also be prevented. The Academy of General Dentistry offers these tips to prevent tooth erosion:

After eating or drinking acidic foods or beverages, rinse your mouth with water so that the acid will be neutralized.

Wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth after consuming acidic foods or beverages to allow the teeth to remineralize after the acid exposure.

Cut back on carbonated drinks and try replacing them with water, milk or un-sweetened coffee and tea.

Use a straw when drinking carbonated beverages or other sweet drinks, such as natural fruit juices, which are very acidic. A straw enables the liquid to go quickly to the back of your mouth instead of washing over the teeth.

Swallow acidic liquids quickly instead of swishing them around or holding them in your mouth.
Chewing sugar-free gum can help reduce dry mouth and increase the saliva flow, allowing for your teeth to remineralize.

Always use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Fluoride can help to reduce tooth sensitivity.

For more information ask your doctor or hygienist.

What to do if a child knocks out their adult front tooth

1. First check that your child does not have any other injuries.
2. If he/she seems seriously hurt call an ambulance.
3. Find the tooth/teeth and if dirty gently rinse in milk, saline (or water as a last resort), holding the crown of the tooth. Do not scrub the root.
4. Put the tooth straight back into place in the mouth.
5. If you cannot put the tooth in place in the mouth put the tooth straight into a glass of milk, not water.
6. See a dentist or go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible – even if you cannot find the tooth.

Give yourself the gift of a radiant smile!