Dr. Lehman, Dr. Malak, and the Summit Dental Excellence team offer cosmetic dental bonding in Oconomowoc to help patients improve the appearance of chipped, discolored, uneven, or misshapen teeth.
Dental bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin that is carefully applied to the tooth and shaped to create a natural-looking result. Unlike a traditional dental filling, which is primarily used to restore a tooth affected by decay or damage, cosmetic bonding is often used to improve the shape, size, color, or overall appearance of a tooth.
Bonding can be used for a variety of cosmetic concerns, including:
- Repairing small chips or fractures
- Improving the shape or proportions of a tooth
- Minimizing the appearance of small gaps between teeth
- Covering certain areas of discoloration
- Making uneven teeth appear more uniform
- Enhancing the overall appearance of your smile
The procedure is generally conservative and can often be completed in a single appointment. Your dentist will select a composite resin shade that blends with your natural teeth, prepare the tooth as needed, apply and sculpt the material, and then harden it using a curing light. The bonded tooth is then carefully shaped and polished to create a smooth, natural-looking finish.
Compared with some other cosmetic treatments, such as porcelain veneers, dental bonding can be a more affordable and conservative way to address minor imperfections.
Tooth Contouring and Reshaping
Sometimes a small cosmetic concern can be improved simply by carefully reshaping the existing tooth. Tooth contouring and reshaping may be appropriate for minor irregularities such as a small chip, slightly uneven tooth length, or subtle differences in tooth shape.
During contouring, your dentist carefully removes a small amount of enamel to refine the shape and appearance of the tooth. Because the procedure involves only the outer enamel and is generally very conservative, anesthesia is often not necessary, although your dentist will determine what is appropriate for your individual situation.
Tooth contouring can sometimes also be used to make minor adjustments to the way teeth come together. However, preserving healthy enamel and maintaining a comfortable, functional bite are always priorities. If reshaping alone cannot safely address a bite or structural concern, another treatment approach may be recommended.
