If you have chips, small gaps, spots, or other small defects in your front teeth, dental bonding can correct them in a single office visit. Dr. Murphree and Dr. Yount will use a white composite resin to give shape your teeth and give them a uniform appearance.
In the photo on the left, you can see a chipped tooth. The photo to the right shows the same tooth after dental bonding. In this example, it is very easy to see that the bonding material is not just flat white. It has the same color variation and translucency found in natural teeth.
The Art of Dental Bonding
Many dentists will not perform dental bonding because they do not have the requisite training and artistry to produce such subtle results. Dr. Murphree has invested in years of postdoctoral training to be able to offer this service. In fact, he has presented lectures on Dental Bonding to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in both Memphis and Orlando in recent years.
Here is another before and after example of beautiful dental bonding technique. Once again, you can see that the tooth corrected with dental bonding has a nice translucency near the biting edge and perfectly matches the color and shape of the tooth next to it.
Dr. Murphree will prepare your tooth for dental bonding by roughening it slightly and applying a bonding agent. He will then mix several shades of composite resin and sculpt the surface to match the shape and color of your other teeth. The resin then needs to harden, and Dr. Murphree will use a special bonding light for that purpose. After it is completely hardened, he will trim and polish it to give it the sparkle of a real tooth.
Caring for Composite Resin
Dr. Murphree and his staff will give you special instructions on how to care for and maintain your repair. It is important to use a soft toothbrush and a gentle cleaning method to avoid scratching the bonding. You’ll want to have your teeth professionally cleaned only by hygienists who have training and experience in cleaning cosmetic dental work.
Dental Bonding versus Porcelain Veneers
If you are looking for a new smile, and your teeth have just a few imperfections, it is possible you may only require some dental bonding that can be accomplished in one visit. But the bonding material is not as strong or stain-resistant as porcelain, so it is not suitable for a complete smile makeover. Click here to read our porcelain veneers page.
Call our office or visit our request an appointment page. We will schedule you for a convenient time to come in and meet one of our doctors for a brief complimentary consultation, or a full exam to see if dental bonding is the right solution for you.