Dental bonding repairs a chipped, worn, or slightly gapped front tooth using composite resin shaped directly onto the tooth and hardened with a curing light. Most cases are finished in 30 to 60 minutes per tooth, in a single visit.

It is the most conservative cosmetic option available, because little or no healthy enamel is removed. Dr. Wes Prepchuk has placed thousands of composite restorations over the past decade, and both dentists at Midpark Dental do bonding as routine work.

Bonding is a cosmetic treatment for small problems on teeth that are otherwise healthy:

• Small chips on front teeth
• Worn or uneven edges
• Small gaps between teeth
• Teeth that look short or misshapen
• Individual stained or discoloured spots that whitening will not lift
• The appearance of a slightly crooked tooth, by reshaping its visible surface

Three things bonding does not do. It does not move teeth, so genuinely crooked teeth need Invisalign. It does not strengthen a tooth, so one that has lost significant structure needs a crown. And it does not whiten teeth: it covers a stain rather than lifting it, and the composite itself will not respond to whitening gel later.

Bonding is faster, cheaper, and far less invasive than the alternatives. A porcelain veneer usually requires permanently removing a layer of enamel. A crown requires reducing the whole tooth. Bonding removes almost nothing, which means the tooth underneath stays intact and your options stay open.

The trade-off is durability. Composite is not as strong as porcelain and not as strong as your own enamel. It chips under heavy force and it stains over time. For a small correction on a front tooth that is a sensible trade. For a heavily worn or structurally damaged tooth it is not, and we will say so.

1. We examine the tooth and take X-rays where needed, confirming it is healthy and that bonding is the right treatment. Bonding placed over decay fails, so anything underneath is dealt with first.
2. Preparing the tooth. The surface is lightly roughened and conditioned so the composite grips, and any sharp edges are smoothed. This removes a negligible amount of enamel.
3. Bonding agent. A liquid bonding agent is applied to the prepared surface, which is what allows the resin to hold to the tooth rather than simply sitting on it.
4. Composite is matched to the shade of the surrounding teeth, applied in layers, and sculpted directly on the tooth. Each layer is hardened with a curing light before the next goes on.
5. Trimming and polishing. Excess material is trimmed and the surface polished to a natural sheen. Polishing matters for more than appearance: a rough surface collects plaque and shortens the life of the restoration.
6. Bite check. You bite on coloured articulating paper so we can find any spot sitting too high. Contacts left unadjusted are the most common reason a bonded tooth fractures early. It takes two minutes and it is the difference between a repair that lasts years and one that lasts months.

Most bonding needs no freezing at all. Freezing is used where the area being treated is close to the nerve, or where decay is being removed at the same time, and we will tell you in advance which applies.

Most bonded restorations last between three and ten years. Where you land depends on where the tooth sits in your bite, whether you grind, and what you eat and drink.

One limitation worth knowing before you commit: composite stains and it does not whiten. Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco darken it over time, and whitening gel has no effect on it at all. If you are planning to whiten your teeth, whiten first and bond afterwards so the composite is matched to your final shade. Doing it the other way round leaves you with a bonded tooth that no longer matches.

• Avoid biting hard objects with it: ice, popcorn kernels, pens, fingernails.
• Wear a night guard if you grind. Grinding is the fastest way to chip a bonded edge, and we make custom guards here.
• Wear a sports mouthguard for contact sport. It protects the bonding and everything around it.
• Brush and floss normally. Decay under a restoration is the most common reason bonding needs replacing early.
• Keep your six-month checkups. Surface staining can be polished out and small chips in the composite repaired long before the whole restoration needs redoing.

People often leave a small chip because it seems inconsequential. The practical argument for dealing with it is cost: a chip that can be bonded today may need a veneer or a crown in two years if the exposed edge decays or the crack spreads. The smaller the problem, the more conservative and the less expensive the treatment.

Bonding is the least expensive cosmetic option, usually a fraction of the cost of a veneer or crown on the same tooth. Midpark Dental follows the Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide, which publishes a standard price for every procedure in the province, so you can compare what we charge against any clinic in the city.

Purely cosmetic bonding is often not covered by insurance, though bonding done to repair a damaged tooth frequently is. We submit a predetermination so you know which applies to you before we start.

Does dental bonding hurt?

Usually not, and most bonding needs no freezing because so little tooth is prepared. Freezing is used if the area is close to the nerve or if decay is being removed at the same time.

How long does bonding last?

Three to ten years for most people. Grinding, biting hard objects, and heavy coffee, tea, or red wine consumption shorten it.

Can bonding be whitened?

No. Whitening gel only works on natural enamel. Composite keeps its original shade, which is why we recommend whitening before bonding rather than after.

Will it match my other teeth?

Yes. Composite comes in a range of shades and is matched to the teeth around it before it is placed. Over years it can pick up stain and drift slightly, at which point it can be polished or replaced.

Bonding or a veneer?

Bonding for small corrections, veneers for larger changes across several teeth. Bonding is cheaper, faster, and takes almost no enamel. A veneer lasts longer and resists staining, but the enamel it removes does not grow back.

Can bonding be repaired if it chips?

Usually yes. A chipped composite can often be repaired or added to without replacing the whole restoration, which is one of its practical advantages over porcelain.

How many teeth can be done in one appointment?

Several, depending on how much work each needs. Doing them together means one visit and one shade match across the whole smile, which usually looks better than doing them piecemeal.

Book a bonding consultation at Midpark Dental by calling (403) 201-7999 or booking online. We are at 201-239 Midpark Way SE, open from 7:00 am until 8:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday. New patients are welcome, no referral is needed, and parking is free.