The Longevity of Dental Bonding
There are many forms and applications of dental bonding, from direct composite bonding used to fill in chipped, broken or otherwise damaged teeth, to adhesive bonding, which is used to bond or adhere other materials like veneers or crowns or bridges to the teeth. If you have ever had a cavity filled or a crown placed over a root canal, you’ve already undergone a dental bonding procedure, though you likely didn’t recognize it as such at the time!
One popular form of dental bonding is direct composite veneers, which are thin layers of composite resin adhered to the front of teeth much like their more costly counterparts, veneers composed of porcelain. Costing half the price or less than that of porcelain veneers, largely due to the lower price point of the composite material used in direct composite veneers and the lack of need to create dental molds in advance, composite veneers are a practical and economical alternative that many people consider when considering this cosmetic form of dental bonding.
How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?
Dental bonding is a solution that is meant to be durable and lasting, though there are some things that can indeed cause damage to the work done in these procedures. While the hardened composite resins that are used in dental bonding are strong and durable materials, they are not as strong as the enamel that covers your regular teeth and therefore can be damaged by things that your teeth might be able to handle just fine. Biting down on an ice cube or enjoying a frozen candy bar might not damage a regular tooth, but this can do damage to dental bonding, so you should take care to avoid these behaviors to extend the life of composite bondings.
Likewise, dental bondings can stain somewhat more readily than your tooth enamel (though your teeth aren’t impervious to stains, either!), so you should take care to either avoid or limit your consumption of products that are known to stain teeth, including tobacco, coffee, tea, and red wine. Your other teeth will be brighter and whiter for it, too!
If you take good care and protect your dental bonding from breakage and staining, they should last for up to ten years.
How Can I Make My Dental Bonding Last?
The best way to take care of your dental bonding is to avoid the kind of breakage or chipping that can occur when you chew on hard foods or materials, bite your nails, or otherwise use your teeth as tools. You can also avoid staining by limiting your consumption of the substances discussed above and use a tooth whitening toothpaste for good measure. Above all, though, you’ll want to simply continue to care for your teeth the way that your dentist has prescribed. Remember, simply brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and maintaining a regular schedule of dental check-ups are all important things that you can do to maintain and happy and healthy smile.