Treatment Procedure
Here is what happens at your composite bonding appointment at our Shirley practice.
Consultation: Your dentist looks at your teeth, talks through what you want to change and confirms whether composite bonding is the right option for you.
Shade selection: A shade guide is held against your teeth to find the closest match to your natural colour before any resin is applied.
Surface preparation: The tooth surface is lightly conditioned so the resin sticks properly. No drilling or removal of tooth structure is needed in most cases.
Resin application: The composite is placed onto the tooth and shaped carefully by hand until it looks right.
Curing: A blue curing light hardens the resin and locks it onto the tooth surface within seconds.
Finishing: Your dentist trims, refines and polishes the resin so the surface feels smooth and the result sits naturally among your other teeth.
Post-Treatment Care
Once your bonding is done, a few good habits protect it and get the most out of your treatment.
Watch what you eat and drink early on: Coffee, tea, red wine and dark sauces are the main culprits for staining resin, especially in the first 48 hours after treatment.
Brush gently twice a day: A soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste keep the surface clean without scratching or dulling the resin over time.
Do not bite hard things: Nails, pen lids and hard foods put pressure on bonded teeth that the resin was not designed to handle. This is the most common cause of chipping.
Tell your dentist if you grind: Night grinding puts a lot of stress on bonding. A nightguard fitted by your dentist takes that pressure off and adds years to the lifespan of the treatment.
Keep your check-up appointments: Your dentist checks the bonding at routine visits and can carry out small repairs before minor wear becomes a bigger problem.
Whiten before you bond: Composite resin does not change colour with whitening gel. If you are thinking about teeth whitening in Shirley, get that done first so the resin can be matched to your new shade.
