Bonding is one of the methods that a cosmetic dentist can use to improve the appearance of your teeth. It involves adding a tooth-coloured resin onto the surface of your teeth so that dental defects like chips and fractures are repaired. This article discusses the steps that the dentist will follow when applying this resin on your teeth. Use this information to evaluate whether this dental procedure would be right for you.

Step 1: Picking the Resin

Cosmetic dentists refer to a shade guide in order to pick the most appropriate composite resin for a given person. The dentist makes sure that he or she selects a resin that will match the colour of your teeth. That resin should also meet your expectations in terms of how white you want your teeth to be.

Step 2: Preparation of the Teeth

The cosmetic dentist will then apply a solution onto your teeth so that their surface is roughened. That etching solution is the first step towards ensuring that the composite resin will adhere to the teeth. The other step is to apply a conditioning fluid onto the roughened surface. You can compare that conditioning liquid to what a primer does before you apply a coat of paint on a wall.

Step 3: Application of the Resin

The dentist will now apply the composite resin onto the teeth that he or she has just prepped. The resin will be moulded so that it takes on the desired shape and texture. The dentist will use laser rays to harden the resin once he or she is satisfied with its smoothness and shape.

Step 4: Final Touches

The dentist may trim and polish the resin once it has hardened. These final touches help to ensure that your teeth will look flawless once you leave the dentist's office. It may be very difficult for someone to tell the difference between the sheen of the teeth that have undergone bonding and those that did not.

You'll need to talk to a cosmetic dentist so that he or she can advise  you on how to get the best results from dental bonding. For instance, he or she will give you advice on which foods or drinks to avoid in order to reduce the likelihood that the composite resin will become stained. The dentist may also recommend another procedure that may give you the results you want.

For more information, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area.