What Is Composite Bonding?
Composite bonding is a treatment. Your dentist puts resin directly onto the tooth. Shapes it to make the tooth look better. Then the material is hardened with a light and polished so it looks like natural tooth enamel.
This treatment works well for chips. It can also change the shape of a tooth that looks uneven or a little too short. Since the dentist adds material to the tooth of removing a lot of enamel the process is usually simple and easy.
Why People Choose Bonding
• A small change in appearance can make a difference especially on a front tooth.
• The appointment is usually quick. That’s good if you don’t want to spend much time at the dentist.
What Are White Fillings?
White fillings are made from the kind of composite resin but they are used for a different reason. A dentist uses a filling to fix a tooth after decay has been removed. The resin fills the hole. Restores the tooth so you can use it normally again.
So if you have a cavity you are not getting a filling to make your tooth look better. You are repairing damage that needs to be fixed.
The Material Can Look Identical
The main difference is why you are using the material.
• A white filling repairs a damaged area. The cavity comes first the filling.
• Bonding. Changes the shape of a healthy tooth though sometimes dentists use composite for both repair and appearance.
Which One Do You Need?
If decay caused the problem a white filling is the choice. If the tooth is healthy but you want to change the shape or fix a chip bonding is usually the better option.
There are times when the line’s not clear. A chipped tooth may need both repair and a cosmetic fix. Your dentist decides how much of the tooth needs fixing and what the final shape should be.
Does Bonding Last Long as a Filling?
Neither material lasts forever. Composite can. Wear over time especially on teeth that take a lot of pressure. Bonding on a tooth requires a bit of care because biting into hard things can chip it.
Honestly I think of these as two uses of the material rather than two different materials. The resin can look the same. What really matters is the reason, for using it.
