What can bonding fix?
- Chipped teeth
- Minor cracks
- Small gaps between teeth
- Teeth that look short
- Uneven edges or shapes
- Discoloured spots
- Roots exposed by gum recession
Why do patients in Vaughan choose dental bonding?
Patients choose dental bonding because it fixes a small flaw in one visit and leaves healthy enamel in place.
Most repairs take one visit
A single chipped tooth takes about 30 to 60 minutes in the chair.
Little or no enamel removed
The dentist roughens the tooth surface and coats it with a liquid that helps the resin stick. Veneers and crowns need a layer of enamel taken off first.
A shade matched to your teeth
The dentist picks the resin colour with a shade guide to match the teeth around it.
A lower cost than veneers or crowns
Cleveland Clinic calls bonding one of the least expensive cosmetic dental treatments.
Can bonding be undone?
Yes, in most cases. When little or no enamel is removed, the dentist can remove the resin or replace it later. Any enamel removed does not grow back. Porcelain veneers need enamel removed for good.
Can bonding repair a broken tooth?
Bonding can repair a small chip or a broken edge on a tooth that is otherwise healthy. The dentist examines the tooth first and decides whether you need X-rays. A bigger break needs a stronger repair.
Bonding is the wrong repair when:
- A large part of the tooth has broken off. A crown covers and protects the whole tooth.
- The break reaches the nerve or the tooth aches on its own. The dentist checks whether the nerve needs treatment first, such as root canal therapy.
- The tooth is cracked deep down or feels loose.
What should you do after you break a tooth?
Call the clinic and save any piece of tooth you find. Do not bite on that side until the dentist sees you. If the break came from a fall or a blow to the face, read our emergency dentist page for what to do first.
Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward your eye or neck, fever with facial swelling, or bleeding that will not stop. Call 911 too after a blow to the head with fainting, a seizure, repeated vomiting or a headache that gets worse.
Does dental bonding hurt?
The dentist tells you before starting whether your bonding needs freezing. When the area is numbed you should not feel pain during the procedure. Tell the dentist straight away if anything hurts.
Your tooth may feel sensitive to hot and cold for a short time afterwards, according to Cleveland Clinic. That sensitivity usually settles. Call the clinic if it lasts, gets worse or your bite feels uneven.
You can eat and drink once you leave. If you were numbed, avoid chewing and hot food or drinks until the feeling comes back.
How long does dental bonding last?
Dental bonding lasts about 3 to 10 years before it needs a touch-up or replacement, according to Cleveland Clinic. Your habits decide where you fall in that range.
A 2015 review of 17 clinical studies looked at composite repairs on front teeth. Between 0 and 4.1 in every 100 failed each year, depending on the study. Fracture of the tooth or the resin was the most common reason. Repairs placed for looks failed more often from colour change and surface stain.
Why does bonding stain and chip?
Composite resin resists stains less well than porcelain, according to Cleveland Clinic. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking stain it. Hard bites and grinding chip it.
Bonding or veneers: which costs less and lasts longer?
Bonding costs less and most repairs take one visit. Porcelain veneers last longer and resist stains better, but they need enamel removed for good.
| Dental bonding | Porcelain veneers | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | One for most repairs | More than one |
| Enamel | Little or none removed | A layer removed for good |
| Stains | More than porcelain | Resists stains better |
| Lasts | 3 to 10 years before a touch-up | Longer than bonding |
| Cost per tooth | About $300 to $600 at other Toronto-area clinics | Higher. Prices are on our veneers page |
| Suits | One chip, a small gap, a short edge | A larger change in colour or shape |
| Wrong choice when | The break is large or you grind hard | You want to keep all your enamel |
Sources: Cleveland Clinic. Bonding prices are published Toronto-area clinic prices.
Our veneers page explains how veneers are placed. Our dentists talk through both options with you along with your timeline and budget.
How does the dental bonding process work?
The dental bonding process has five steps, once any decay or gum disease has been treated. Cleveland Clinic lists them:
- Shade matching. A shade guide sets the resin colour.
- Preparing the tooth. The dentist roughens the surface and applies a liquid that helps the resin stick.
- Applying the resin. The soft resin goes on and is moulded into shape.
- Curing. A curing light hardens the resin and bonds it to the tooth.
- Polishing. The dentist polishes the resin to a natural shine and checks your bite.
Should you whiten your teeth before bonding?
If you want lighter teeth, ask the dentist about whitening before bonding. Whitening only lightens natural teeth, according to the NHS. Bonding resin keeps the shade it was matched to, so a tooth bonded before whitening ends up darker than its neighbours.
Whitening does not lift every stain inside a tooth. Ask the dentist how long to wait between whitening and bonding. Our teeth whitening page explains the options.
How do you care for bonded teeth?
Care for bonded teeth like natural teeth, and protect the resin:
- Brush twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste
- Floss once a day
- Do not bite nails, pens or ice, or open packages with your teeth
- Cut back on coffee, tea and red wine
- Keep your regular check-ups and cleanings
If you grind your teeth, ask the team whether a night guard suits you. A night guard helps protect bonding from grinding. It does not stop the habit.
Call the clinic if a bonded tooth has a sharp edge, chips or feels odd when you bite.
How much does dental bonding cost in Ontario?
Published prices at other Toronto-area clinics run about $300 to $600 per tooth for dental bonding. Your own cost comes in a written estimate after an exam.
Your total depends on:
- How many teeth you want bonded
- How much resin and shaping each repair needs
- Treatment needed first, such as a filling or gum care
- X-rays, if the dentist decides you need them after your history and exam
Count future touch-ups in when you compare bonding with veneers or crowns.
Does insurance or the CDCP cover dental bonding?
Private dental plans set their own rules for a repair and for bonding done only for looks. My City Dental offers direct insurance billing. A predetermination gives an estimate and not a promise of what your plan will pay.
My City Dental accepts the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The CDCP Dental Benefits Guide lists cosmetic treatment and restorations for worn biting edges as exclusions, so the CDCP does not pay for bonding done only to change how teeth look. A filling that repairs decay or a broken tooth falls under the guide's restorative services, where coverage depends on the service and your eligibility and some services need preauthorization.
Questions about dental bonding in Vaughan
How many teeth can be bonded at once?
No fixed number of teeth applies to one bonding visit. Each tooth takes about 30 to 60 minutes, so bonding four or six front teeth takes several hours. The dentist plans the work around how many teeth need it and how long you can sit comfortably.
Is teeth bonding worth it?
Teeth bonding is worth it for a small chip, gap or uneven edge on an otherwise healthy tooth. You keep your enamel and pay less per tooth than for veneers or crowns. It is a poor fit for a large break, heavy grinding or a big colour change. Ask the dentist about a crown, whitening or veneers for those.
What happens after 5 years of composite bonding?
After five years, composite bonding may still look good or it may show staining, a dull surface, worn edges or a small chip. The dentist checks it at your regular visits and polishes, touches up or replaces worn resin. Grinding, hard bites and dark drinks shorten its life.