There are multiple types and scenarios of bonding white composite resin. There is no one type suits all modality. Everyone is different and requires a bespoke customisation depending on their needs and desires. The truth is we can pretty much create any style you wish but in order to for you to be completely happy, you need to be able to give your clinician as much feedback as possible to help achieve your goal together. 

1) Anterior composite veneer. 

2) Partial front tooth repair. 

3) Edge bonding of worn or short teeth.

4) Closing gaps or black triangles. 

 
 
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 
How long does anterior composite bonding last?
It varies in every case as sometimes they just need re-polished and other times a small chip may need repaired. If you look after them, in general at least 3-6 years. All composites normally carry a minimum 12 month guarantee beyond this point it is unlikely that you are going to have a catastrophic failure unless you traumatise the area. We advise patients where appropriate to wear a night guard or retainer to help protect the teeth and maintain their positions.

It is recommended with all composite bonding (white filling veneers especially), require reconditioning and polishing every year to maintain their gloss and margins kept clean (this will be an additional cost starting from £130.00). We will go over all the finer details in your consultation and informed consent forms at your consultation appointment. 

What is the general cost for anterior composite bonding?
Prices range in general from £250-500 per tooth depending on the level of complexity. We work under microscope (very high magnification to see every detail) and plan every case digitally therefore a huge amount of planning and work goes into every case. Some of the most complex cases are where we have to rebuild a lot of the tooth or close large gaps between the front teeth (called a diastema). 

How do you match the colour? What is colour mapping?
This is where we take multiple polarised photographs of your natural teeth (and with the aid of specialised digital imaging software), create a custom colour palette to make sure our restoration looks invisible and blends with your natural teeth. A more simple explanation would be taking a colour sample to a paint centre and they use a computer to create a paint that will exactly match. 

Is composite bonding likely to fracture?
This depends on what happens to them i.e. trauma or biting especially hard on something. At the end of the day the composite material is just a form of white (non-toxic) plastic that we glue to your teeth. Plastic is not as strong as your natural healthy teeth - therefore if your natural teeth fractured and nothing changes with regards to your bite, behaviour etc then there is a high chance this may happen again. In many instances we may recommend moving the teeth using orthodontics first followed by any whitening and then composite bonding.

What is edge bonding?
This is where you may have worn and chipped edges to your front teeth and we add the ideal length back by bonding the white composite filling onto the end of them. This must be planned very carefully as it can in some cases alter the bite and needs supervision from a dental professional. The advantage is that the bonding only occurs at the worn edges of your teeth and does not cover the whole tooth but the small amount of surface we have to glue to, the less strength we have in cross-section and increases fracture/de-bonding likelihood. 

Can I whiten my teeth after composite bonding?
Yes... but any composite bonding or artificial materials in your mouth will not whiten. Therefore we advise you to whiten your teeth first to a colour you are happy with and then your dentist will match the colour of the composite to your ideal shade. Your natural teeth with fade in colour over time therefore you may need to do some top up whitening for few nights every 6-12 months. If your composite bonding is darker than your natural teeth or fades over time it may need to be replaced for a new whiter composite colour (this normally incorporates a new fee).

I have gaps and chipped edges with my front teeth... what are my options and the risks of each?
Great question... here you go:
 
1) Do nothing and accept the teeth the way they are.
 
Advantages: No cost. No dentistry carried out. You just keep living your life as you are. 

Disadvantages: There is a cost for our services and we take a lot of time to get your teeth as perfect as possible. If you leave your teeth as they are, they may fracture more, wear down more and this can result in pain, infection and premature loss of tooth. Where simple composite bonding may be needed, if left, you may end up needing crowns or more invasive and expensive treatment. Teeth can move and drift over time and therefore the issue can become progressively worse making our job harder and more complex to solve. 

2) Perform composite bonding. 

Advantages: Normally performed very quickly (1-2 visits lasting a few hours each depending on complexity). Very rarely do we need to cut or damage your tooth underneath therefore we call the procedure 'minimally invasive'. We can normally match the colour of your teeth with the material we choose so it should look relatively invisible. Most patients feel little to no pain during or after the procedure as no drilling of your natural tooth occurs - hence this has become a very popular procedure. If you do not like the shape, length, colour or something chips of breaks - fixing it is a very simple procedure and can be done very quickly. 

Disadvantage: Can be prone to chipping or fracturing. Will need regular reconditioning and replaced every 3-5 years. Colour and polish can fade over time. Margins can become stained and irritate the gums if not smooth. Can look bulky or thick if masking a darker colour underneath or layered incorrectly and not polished back. You need to find someone with a lot of experience in this field to ensure it is done correctly and ethically. Please be aware this process is NOT reversible. Once you bond composite to teeth, removing it can be very complicated and time consuming - anyone that tells you otherwise has not done it often enough and lacks the long term experience. 

3) Porcelain ceramic veneers.

Advantages: These are far stronger than composite veneers. They keep their colour and shine for longer. They normally do not need to be replaced for at least 8-15 years. They normally feel smoother, thinner and cleaner than composite especially over time. We have noticed the margins around the gums are cleaner and healthier near ceramic than composite - our patients normally tell us that cleaning and flossing around them feels very smooth compared to areas with old composite fillings. They can be extremely thin and mimic natural tooth with the right technical knowledge and skills. 
 
Disadvantage: Normally takes minimum 3-8 weeks as must be planned very carefully. Is more expensive than composite bonding (prices starting from £800.00 per tooth). Requires a mock up and prototypes made beforehand to make sure you are happy with the look of the teeth before proceeding. In many instances requires tooth preparation (i.e. we have to drill a small amount of the tooth away to create space for the veneer 0.3-1mm). This can result in post-operate sensitivity which is normally transient and settles over time. If it does not settle there is always a risk the tooth may require root canal treatment - although rare, this is a risk. 

4) Orthodontics with reshaping of teeth or bonding or ceramic porcelain veneers.

Advantages: In general as dentists this is our preferred option (ask your dentist what they would do if they were you). If we move the teeth into the ideal position and do a little whitening and polishing, this normally makes our patients and us very happy. Why? Because no damage to the teeth, hardly any pain or drilling needed, it is your own teeth so the maintenance is minimal over the course of your life. Also no need to replace any bonding or veneers or crowns if none are needed in the first place. Cheaper over the long term course of ones life. If we do need to do some composite bonding or ceramic veneers it normally means that any drilling required to your natural teeth is very minimal and the outcome will be much more favourable (especially for the long-term). 
 
Disadvantage: Normally large initially outlay cost and time needed varies between 3-18 months depending on complexity. You will invariably need a retainer some sort to be worn especially at night for the rest of your life to prevent movement of the teeth.