Composite Bonding For a Confident, Natural Smile

Bonding can be a great option if you have healthy teeth and gums and would like to improve smaller cosmetic concerns. If your teeth are more crowded, heavily discoloured or broken down, your dentist may recommend straightening, whitening, veneers or crowns instead - or a combination as part of a smile makeover.

Bonding is commonly used for:

• Chipped or worn edges
• Small gaps between teeth
• Uneven or slightly misshapen teeth
• Teeth that look short or small
• Patches of discolouration that whitening alone won’t improve

With good care, composite bonding often lasts several years. Like natural teeth, it can pick up stains from tea, coffee, red wine and smoking, and the edges can occasionally chip - but one advantage of composite is that it can usually be polished, repaired or topped up without starting again.

To help your bonding last, keep up with regular check-ups and hygiene appointments, avoid biting hard objects such as pens or ice, and ask your dentist about a night guard if you grind your teeth.

Most patients find bonding very comfortable. Because little or no tooth is removed, local anaesthetic is often not needed, although your dentist may use it if a tooth needs more extensive repair. Your teeth may feel slightly different for a day or two while you get used to their new shape.

If you feel anxious about dental treatment, just let us know - we’ll take things at your pace and explain each step as we go. Our associate dentist Dr Edmund Acheampong has a particular interest in cosmetic dentistry and is a member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.