If you have unsightly teeth that are chipped or otherwise misshapen, and you want to do something about it that will not break the bank, there is an option for you. It is called bonding. In bonding, the dentist uses dental material and natural teeth, linking them together as one. Bonding is painless and noninvasive, and is accomplished in one visit to the dentist. It is simple because there is nothing temporary that needs to be replaced later, and there are no molds to make. Just one visit and you are done. And, the best part is, it will not break the bank.
There are a couple types of bonding. One type of bonding is used to link together one surface to another. Basically, this type is used when the bonding resin needs to serve as the bridge between another type of filling and a natural tooth. The most common type of dental bonding is known as direct bonding. This type of bonding allows the dentist to place the bonding resin directly onto the tooth, shaping it and filling in any flaws that may be on the tooth.
The actual direct bonding process is simple. First, the tooth that will be bonded is isolated. Isolation of the tooth is crucial because it makes sure that no moisture will interfere with the bonding process. Once the tooth has been isolated, it is harden by undergoing an acid etching process. This means that phosphoric acid is added to the tooth for fifteen seconds to harden it. The acid is then removed and the bonding resin is added. The dentist shapes it, using a special light to harden the resin. The application and shaping of the resin is repeated as necessary, until just the right shape of the tooth has been achieved.
Though this process is simple and non invasive, side effects can occur. If the bonding has been done inadequately, bacteria may invade the tooth and further damage it. However, if this does occur, your Chicago Cosmetic dentist can fix the problem. Dental bonding is a good choice for people with chipped teeth, because it is relatively inexpensive and painless, and anything that may go wrong can be countered by a dentist.
Teeth are easily discolored because they are not naturally stain resistant. Many things can discolor teeth, like: drinking dark colored beverages, smoking cigarettes, age, grinding, and trauma. The good news is that discolored teeth can be whitened to look better than they ever have. A dentist can whiten teeth, or you can purchase an at home whitening kit from any grocery or drug store. Doing it yourself at home is much cheaper than going to the dentist, but it is not as quick or as efficient.
Getting your teeth whitened by the Chicago Cosmetic Dentist takes all of one 45 minute session, and then you are done. You and your dentist will first consult a tooth shade chart, to figure out what your current tooth shade is and what your goal tooth shade is. A protective guard is placed in your mouth to protect your lips and gums from the whitening gel. The whitening gel is placed on your teeth, and a special lamp is used on the gel to speed up the whitening process. The gel may stay on your teeth for up to twenty minutes at a time. Sometimes the dentist will place the gel on your teeth three separate times in one visit. Getting your teeth whitened by the dentist is much faster than doing it yourself – you go in once, and you are done! But it does get rather pricey.
At home teeth whitening kit are more cost effective than going to your dentist, but it may take several weeks for the results of the kit to become noticeable. Gel is applied to the teeth once, sometimes twice, daily for 30 minutes to an hour at time. This is repeated for up to ten days. Though it is not as quick as going to the dentist, it does cost less money, and many people find that the eventual results from the at home kit are just as good as the immediate results achieved by the dentist.
It boils down to one question: what do you have more of, time or money? If you are short on time and want your teeth looking beautifully white quickly, and you do not want to mess with the extra time at home kits take out of your day, go to the dentist. If you do not mind all the extra work and you do not want to spend your money at the dentist, purchase an at home kit. Both ways will get you beautifully white teeth.