Dr. Enrico DiVito is a general and cosmetic dentist who specializes in laser dentistry at the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in North Scottsdale. A graduate of Arizona State University and the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, Dr. DiVito returned to Arizona and established a private practice in 1980. He founded the Arizona Center for Laser Dentistry in 2007. Here, he tells us why someone would consider getting dental bonding.
Bonding is usually a good option when a patient may be interested in having restorative dentistry or cosmetic dentistry done to his teeth. Unlike other treatment methods that might not look completely natural, bonding makes a minor dental correction without worrying about having metal showing in a patient’s mouth.
For years, we thought metal was the best option for a lot of dental procedures. But what happens is that metal turns dark after a while, and patients definitely do not want that showing. So by going with a treatment method like bonding, patients are able to correct a whole host of oral problems with just porcelain, and no metal has to be involved.
We are able to do so many things with bonding. We can quickly and affordably fix problems like tooth decay, cracks, discoloration, small gaps, and even eliminate lower bite pressure that might be caused by teeth that are too short or uneven.
Bonding is a great treatment for all these problems because it essentially eliminates the need for cement by “bonding”—so to speak—directly to the enamel of the tooth. So after looking at the tooth in question and inspecting the crack or decay—depending on the problem—we will choose a composite resin color that is the closest match to the true color of a patient’s original tooth and the other teeth in that patient’s mouth. We’ll then do what we call “roughing” the outer-most layer of the tooth to remove a slight amount of enamel. Then, we will apply a adhesive to help the composite resin stick to the tooth.
From there, we will shape the composite resin and fill in any cracks or gaps that we are hoping to remedy with its use. Finally, because we are a practice that uses lasers, what we will do is use a laser to essentially bond the material to the patient’s tooth or teeth.
The process is essentially pain-free — although a local anesthetic may be used in some cases—and takes only one to two hours for most people. In addition, it is a treatment method that requires only a single appointment to perform, which is a huge relief for patients who may not have the time to schedule multiple appointments to get a single tooth fixed.
In terms of how long bonding lasts, the resin that is used lasts around 10 years in most cases. In addition, people can rest assured that most dental insurances will cover bonding as a treatment option as long as the procedure was done as a restorative treatment rather than for cosmetic reasons. For patients who might not have dental insurance, the average cost of bonding ranges from $100 to $600 per tooth.
When someone comes in and asks what bonding is, I tell them it is a term that is used to describe how we as dentists are now able to take a resin or a product and bind it directly to the enamel of the teeth without having to use anything else to bind it. We are using bonding to treat different kinds of dental problems, which makes it a good option for a lot of patients.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
