Bonding
Bonding, or Composite Resin Restoration, is often referred to as the "superglue of dentistry."
- The process of repairing a tooth with a composite filling is called bonding.
- The composite material is placed into the cavity in layers until the tooth is restored to its original form.
- The filling is permanently fused or bonded to the tooth.
- This is a major advance for dentistry as there is no longer the need to cut a slot into a tooth to hold a filling in place, as is necessary for an amalgam filling. The preparation for an amalgam filling entails the removal of the decayed part and a small amount of healthy tooth.
- Less tooth needs to be cut away with bonding, as only the decayed part is cut out.
- An ultraviolet light is used to harden it, and it can be chewed on immediately after it has been completed, whereas an amalgam filling takes a few hours to harden.
- The composite restoration is named after material that is used, namely composite resin.
- Composite resin is a plastic tooth-coloured material that is used as a filling. It is also called a white or plastic filling.
- It is aesthetic and durable.
- Bonding has all the qualities needed for cosmetic dentistry. This applies particularly to the repair of discoloured front teeth.
- Chipped and fractured teeth can be aesthetically repaired.
- The spaces between teeth can be reduced or closed by applying the composite to the teeth on each side of the gap.
- The visible surface of a front tooth can be "re-surfaced" with the use of composites. This will, however, be less durable than a porcelain veneer.
- Inlays and onlays are very strong and usually last much longer than fillings.
- They are especially suitable for the chewing surfaces of back teeth and for large repairs to front teeth, where it can be difficult to make a white filling look natural.
- Your dentist can often get a better match to the colour to your other teeth.
