Chipped Tooth Bonding: What You Should Know
5 September 2024
Composite bonding in Rotherham, with an honest answer first
- Look at the tooth and say what bonding can and cannot do for it
- Compare it with leaving the tooth alone, which is sometimes right
- Explain what looking after it involves
- Price it in writing before anything is shaped
Nothing is added to a tooth until you have seen the estimate and agreed to it.
Not sure which appointment you need?
This is a guide to the right first appointment, not a diagnosis. Your dentist will talk through what is right for you once they have had a look.
Would rather just talk to someone? Call 01709 872292 or send an enquiry.
What it costs
- Composite tooth contouring per tooth
- Private £180
- Membership plan Not included
Fees are reviewed regularly. Please ask us for a current estimate.
Got a chip or a gap that bothers you?
A look at the tooth, a straight answer about what bonding can and cannot do for it, and the cost in writing.
Why it is the conservative option
Bonding adds material rather than removing it. In many cases the tooth is not drilled at all, just cleaned and prepared so the composite sticks. That means if you change your mind in ten years, or the fashion changes, the tooth underneath is still your tooth.
It also means the work is repairable. A chipped edge can be added to and repolished in one visit, rather than the whole thing needing remaking.
The catch is that composite is not as hard as porcelain or as stain-resistant as enamel. It picks up colour from tea, coffee, red wine and smoking over the years, and it can chip if you bite your nails, open things with your teeth or grind at night.
What happens on the day
- A conversation about what you would change, and what is realistic
- The shade matched to your own teeth in natural light
- The surface prepared so the composite bonds to it
- Composite added in layers and shaped by hand on the tooth
- Set with a light, then trimmed and polished until it looks right
Looking after it
It can be polished
Surface staining can often be polished off at a hygiene appointment, which keeps bonding looking fresh for considerably longer.
Whiten first, not after
Composite does not respond to whitening gel. If you want whiter teeth as well, do the whitening first so the bonding can be matched to the final shade.
Straighten first, sometimes
If teeth are crowded or turned, moving them first often means less composite is needed and the result sits better. Your dentist will say if that applies to you.
Ask whether bonding suits your tooth
Send an enquiry and reception will arrange a consultation to look at the tooth and talk through what bonding can and cannot do.
What patients say about this treatment
Left on Google by patients of this practice, unedited, each one linking back to the review it was taken from.
Amir has been absolutely fantastic. I have had composite bonding done on my front teeth and he was brilliant throughout the whole process. Very reassuring and knowledgeable and tailored everything to what I wanted giving me the best advice. I feel so much more confident and love my teeth. Would definately recommend to anyone who's wanting this done.
Response from Fitzwilliam Dental
Thank you for taking the time to share such a lovely review. We’re so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Amir and that you’re happy with your new smile. Confidence is everything, and it’s fantastic to know we could help you achieve that. We truly appreciate your recommendation! :-)
Questions people ask
What it can fix, how the colour is matched, and how long before it wants topping up.
What can bonding actually fix?
More than most people expect, and all of it in one visit:
- Chips and small fractures on a front edge
- Gaps between teeth, closed or narrowed
- Worn teeth, built back to something like their original shape
- Discolouration that whitening will not lift
- Small areas of decay, repaired at the same time
Will it match my other teeth?
That is most of the skill in it. Composite comes in a range of shades and they are chosen against your own teeth rather than off a chart, then built up in layers so the finished surface behaves like enamel does in daylight.
Which is also why whitening comes first if you want both. Composite is matched to the shade your teeth are on the day, and it will not lighten later.
How long before it needs redoing?
A few years, typically, and then it is a top-up rather than a fresh start. Bonding is not permanent and it was never meant to be: it stains gradually, it can chip, and it is designed to be added to and repolished.
That is the honest trade against porcelain, which lasts longer and costs more, and needs some of your tooth taken away first. Bonding keeps the tooth and accepts the maintenance.
See what it would take before you decide
Come in, hear what bonding would and would not change for your tooth, and leave with an estimate.
Book an appointment Call 01709 872292
Payment plans are available for larger treatment plans, subject to status and to the lender's terms. See how they work.
