Composite bonding

Composite is a resin, matched to your tooth colour, applied and sculpted by the dentist directly in the mouth and hardened with a light. It is done in one appointment, needs no laboratory, and in many cases requires little or no removal of tooth structure. It is less strong and less stain-resistant than ceramic and it will need maintenance — but where it is appropriate, it is repairable, adjustable and far less final than a veneer or a crown.

• Chipped or worn incisal edges on front teeth
• Small gaps between front teeth
• A tooth slightly out of shape or shorter than its neighbours
• Localised discolouration that whitening will not shift
• Exposed root surfaces from recession, where the concern is sensitivity or appearance
• As a reversible trial before committing to ceramic

• Whitening alone, where the concern is colour rather than shape
• Orthodontics, where the underlying issue is tooth position rather than shape
• Veneers, where more substantial change in shape or colour is sought
• Crowns, where the tooth is too damaged for bonding to be predictable
• Doing nothing, particularly for wear that is not progressing

• Photographs of the teeth concerned and of your bite
• An examination for decay and for cracks
• Whether you grind or clench, which shortens the life of composite considerably
• The cause of any wear — acid erosion and grinding need addressing first
• Gum health around the teeth concerned
• Whether you plan to whiten, since composite does not whiten

1. 1

   Assessment and shade selection

   Examination, cause of any wear established, and the shade matched — ideally in daylight rather than under a surgery light.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

2. 2

   Any preparatory treatment

   Whitening first if planned, and treatment of decay, erosion or grinding before bonding is placed.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

3. 3

   Placement and sculpting

   Resin is applied in layers, shaped by hand and hardened. Usually completed in a single appointment.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

4. 4

   Polishing and bite check

   Final shaping and polishing, and adjustment so the bonding is not taking excessive force.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

5. 5

   Maintenance

   Composite stains over time and edges can chip. Repolishing and small repairs are normal and inexpensive.

   Carried out by: You

Usually a single appointment, sometimes two where several teeth are involved or where whitening comes first. It is one of the few treatments that genuinely does not need laboratory time, which makes it well suited to a short trip.

• How much force that tooth takes in your bite
• Whether you grind or clench
• The extent of the change sought — large changes are better served by ceramic
• Whether the underlying cause of wear has been addressed
• Your tolerance for maintenance, which composite needs and ceramic needs less of
• Staining habits — coffee, tea, red wine and smoking all discolour composite

• How many teeth are involved
• The composite system used
• Whether a wax-up or digital design is done beforehand
• The time taken — hand-sculpted work on front teeth is slow, and the result depends on it

We do not publish price ranges for this treatment. Any figure we could give before a clinic has approved it would be a guess presented as guidance. Your final price comes from the partner clinic in writing, after a dentist has reviewed your case.

• Chipping, particularly at incisal edges and in people who grind
• Staining over time, more readily than ceramic
• The margin between composite and tooth can discolour
• It will need repair, repolishing or replacement over the years
• Colour matching can be imperfect, and composite does not respond to whitening
• Where preparation is needed, that removal is still irreversible
• Poorly contoured bonding traps plaque and can inflame the gum

• Is any tooth structure being removed, and how much?
• Would whitening on its own get me closer to what I want?
• How long would you expect this to last, in my bite?
• What is the maintenance, and what does a repair cost?
• Am I a grinder, and if so should I have a guard?
• If I later want veneers, does having bonding now make that harder?

These are worth asking of any clinic, including ours. A clinic that answers them clearly and in writing is telling you something useful.

This treatment would be carried out by a licensed dentist at the partner clinic you choose, working in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Dental Anchor does not provide treatment and does not employ dentists.

• Teeth whitening
• Veneers

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