Is Cosmetic Dental Bonding Permanent?

For many of us, our smile is a huge source of pride and joy; in fact, it’s often our most valuable asset when it comes to making lasting, memorable first impressions. That means that when you notice a small imperfection with one of your pearly whites, it can certainly put a dent in your self-esteem. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry offers several incredible solutions that are capable of assisting compromised smiles, including cosmetic dental bonding. Here’s a little more about this amazing solution and some of the factors that influence its lifespan—though not a permanent solution, it is still undeniably impressive!

A Closer Look at Cosmetic Dental Bonding

Cosmetic dental bonding is one of the most popular and widely accessible services that people turn to these days. Your dentist can utilize a composite, tooth-colored resin to mask any visible stains, chips, cracks, gaps or other types of aesthetic flaws in your smile. It’s molded perfectly over any number of compromised teeth and then hardened with a UV light. One notable benefit of this option is that it’s incredibly quick to carry out, usually only requiring a single appointment.

That said, it’s unfortunately not a permanent procedure and is intended to last for just a few years—usually anywhere from 5 to 10, depending on the patient’s commitment to oral care. Although the materials used during dental bonding are strong, they aren’t as durable as your natural enamel!

Factors That Affect the Longevity of Cosmetic Dental Bonding

If you’re interested in receiving cosmetic dental bonding, here are a few notable factors that influence the lifespan of the intended results:

• Bite problems, including overbites, underbites and crossbites. These issues place strain on certain teeth whenever you bite down, and placing excess pressure on teeth that have undergone dental bonding can lead to the results failing more quickly.
• Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can also similarly cause excess pressure that might damage the bonding material in addition to causing a plethora of other oral health problems.
• Dental bonding at the edge of your teeth or on the front teeth is more likely to crack (due to these teeth biting into food), though all dental bonding is susceptible to damage.

Tips for Maintaining Your Results

It’s important to acknowledge that since bad habits and poor oral hygiene can drastically reduce the lifespan of your results, it falls on you to preserve your results for as long as possible. Here are some tips to consider:

• Practice great oral hygiene at home; brush, floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash daily.
• Avoid bad oral habits like smoking, using tobacco, drinking alcohol excessively, using your teeth as tools, and chewing on ice cubes.
• Avoid frequently consuming items that are known to cause teeth staining, such as coffee, red sauces and wines, teas, sodas and more.
• Continue to visit your dentist for routine preventive care. They can also touch up your results if necessary.

About the Practice

Here at Ralph Ave Dental Care, we’re thrilled to provide patients and families in the Brooklyn, NY area with an elite level of dental care. Our practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services that are certain to help you and your loved ones achieve bright and healthy smiles that you’ll love showing off. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule a visit for you or someone you know, feel free to give us a call or contact us online for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (718) 531-0300.