A beautiful smile is important for everyone. However, at times, individuals may not be satisfied with their smiles for various reasons. These reasons are often related to the teeth. Crooked teeth, discolored teeth, gaps between teeth, and disproportionate tooth sizes are some factors that can disrupt dental and smile aesthetics.
What are the advantages of bonding treatment?
The absence of any abrasion or reduction in teeth is one of the greatest advantages of bonding treatment. This way, patients can have more beautiful teeth without any harm to their healthy teeth.
The highly practical nature of the treatment and its quick completion are another advantage for patients. Depending on the number of teeth to undergo bonding, the entire treatment can be completed in a single session lasting a few hours at most.
If there are decayed tissues that need to be cleaned on the tooth where bonding will be applied, anesthesia may be necessary. However, no anesthesia is required for the bonding application itself. This is a significant advantage, especially for patients who fear injections.
The lower cost compared to porcelain laminates and other porcelain applications is also an advantage of bonding treatment.
The ability to make changes during treatment based on patients' expectations significantly increases the satisfaction rate at the end of the treatment.
The repairability of bonding applications in case of any damage is also among the advantages.
When is bonding not preferred?
In cases where there are many irregularities in the alignment of the teeth, bonding applications may be inadequate and are therefore not preferred.
In cases of large cavities, coating procedures are preferred over bonding.
For teeth that can positively respond to whitening treatments, priority is given to whitening treatments.
Bonding is not preferred in patients with harmful habits such as teeth clenching, teeth grinding, or nail biting, which exert excessive force on the front teeth. If bonding is still to be applied, it is essential to first eliminate these habits.
How long does bonding treatment take and how is it done?
The duration of bonding treatment varies depending on the condition and number of teeth. The most accurate timeframe is determined after a dental examination.
Firstly, a detailed examination of the patient's mouth is conducted to identify treatment needs and oral hygiene.
If there are deficiencies in oral hygiene, appropriate interventions are taken. This may include tartar removal, gum treatments, cleaning of decayed teeth, and other necessary treatments.
If there are irregularities in the gums of the teeth on which bonding is planned, these are corrected through small surgical interventions, preparing the teeth for bonding application.
The color of existing teeth is determined, and based on this, the color of composite materials to be used in the bonding process is selected.
To enhance the adhesion of the composite material to the tooth surface, a procedure called "etching" is performed, roughening the tooth surfaces at the micron level.
Bonding agents, called "bond," are applied as a thin layer to the roughened tooth surfaces and are then irradiated.
The composite filling material is applied to the tooth surface as a thin layer and shaped. During this shaping, the patient's aesthetic expectations and needs are considered. Subsequently, after irradiation, the composite laminates are secured.
At this stage, the patient's opinion is taken into account, and changes are made if necessary.
Polishing procedures, called "polisaj," are used to smooth and polish the surfaces of the composite laminates. Thus, the bonding application is completed.
Does the bonding last long?
Bonding applications have a high level of durability, just like other composite fillings. However, due to their delicate structures, they should not be subjected to excessive force. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid behaviors such as opening and consuming hard-shelled nuts and biting on hard objects with teeth that have undergone bonding.
The lifespan of the bonding application depends on the patient's oral hygiene and habits. With good oral care and careful use, bonding treatment can last for a long time.
Periodic consumption of substances that may cause discoloration, such as tea and coffee, as well as occasional disruptions in oral hygiene and plaque buildup, can lead to discoloration on the bonding. These can be easily addressed through maintenance and polishing procedures under the supervision of a dentist. For these reasons, biannual dental check-ups are important to ensure the longevity of the bonding application.
What are the differences between bonding and porcelain veneers?
There are some differences between bonding treatments and porcelain laminates, which have very similar application areas.
One of the main differences between porcelain laminates and bonding treatments is the aesthetic characteristics due to the structure of the materials used. Porcelain laminates have a smoother surface compared to bonding. Additionally, there are differences in the light transmission and reflection properties between these two methods. Because of these features, porcelain laminates provide better aesthetic results compared to bonding treatments.
Furthermore, in terms of cost and application time, bonding treatments are more advantageous compared to porcelain laminates.
If applications are damaged for any reason, bonding treatments can be easily repaired, while porcelain laminates require complete replacement. This is also an advantage of bonding treatments in certain situations.
In which situations is bonding done?
Bonding applications are a preferred treatment alternative for tooth discolorations that cannot be resolved with whitening treatments. Depending on the characteristics of the composite material used, excessive discolorations can be covered by adding a thin layer.
Bonding treatment can be applied in cases where tooth enamel has structural abnormalities and roughness due to genetic or other reasons. Rough tooth surfaces can not only be more prone to discoloration and cavities but can also create an aesthetically disturbing appearance. The solution to these problems is quite easy with bonding applications.
In the presence of superficial tooth decay, bonding treatment is used to both functionally and aesthetically complete the tooth after the decay has been removed.
In cases of small tooth fractures and enamel cracks, bonding can be applied to prevent problems such as discoloration and decay in the fracture and crack lines, as well as to correct the appearance created by these fractures and cracks.
In cases where there are gaps between the front teeth, known as diastema, bonding can be applied if the patient does not prefer orthodontic treatment. Additionally, if diastemas are formed due to the small size of the teeth, which orthodontic treatment cannot aesthetically address, bonding application can be an ideal method for treatment.
Small shape deformities in the front teeth can be corrected to achieve a more ideal appearance through bonding applications without the need for porcelain applications.
In cases where the sizes of the front teeth are mismatched, bonding treatments can be used to equalize the dimensions.
When the tooth lengths are short, both the aesthetic appearance may not be sufficient, and individuals may appear older than they are. This situation negatively affecting smile aesthetics can be corrected with bonding applications.
In cases where the patient does not prefer orthodontic treatment, i.e., braces, minor misalignments of the teeth can be corrected with bonding, providing a smoother appearance to the teeth.
