4 steps to enhancing your smile with cosmetic dental bonding

If your teeth are chipped or you have other imperfections, such as gaps between teeth, cosmetic dental bonding is an affordable, fast, and minimally invasive way to improve the appearance of your smile. The process of enhancing your smile can be completed in the following four steps by our dentist at KB Family Dentistry, Dr. Katie Burggraaf.

1 – Consultation 

The first step is to schedule an appointment at our office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During your visit, be prepared to discuss what you don’t like about your smile. You will also discuss things like your goals and preferences with Dr. Burggraaf. She will take a close look at your specific concerns, which informs her recommendations for treatment options. 

In general, bonding may be a good option to: 

• Cover up gaps between teeth
• Disguise chips or minor cracks
• Conceal stubborn stains and discoloration (that cannot be properly treated with professional whitening methods)
• Reshape irregular teeth 
• Resize teeth for a more uniform smile
• Make teeth with minor alignment issues look more evenly spaced

2 – Examination

During your visit, Dr. Burggraaf also evaluates the condition of your teeth, gums, and other parts of your mouth. If Dr. Burggraaf finds signs of conditions such as tooth decay or gum disease, it is important to treat these conditions before moving forward with any cosmetic procedure, including bonding. Additionally, alternative procedures may be recommended; for instance, patients with certain types of cracks may need dental restorations like crowns to restore the structure and strength of the vulnerable tooth. 

3 – Preparation 

Dental bonding involves preparing both the teeth as well as the material used to fix imperfections. Preparation of each tooth largely involves “roughening” up the surface and applying a special conditioning liquid. This step is necessary to help the bonding material (composite resin) adhere well to the tooth. The resin is also precisely shade-matched, so its color blends in with the neighboring teeth. Dr. Burggraaf then uses her considerable skills and training to apply and mold the putty-like resin into the right shape to correct and camouflage flaws. After everything looks perfect, she hardens and secures this putty with a curing light. Final adjustments are made as needed before polishing the resin, so your tooth shines beautifully and naturally.

4 – Care

As a provider of complete dental care solutions, KB Family Dentistry works with patients to keep their smile healthy and looking great. Dr. Burggraaf can identify risk factors that may damage your dental work early on, and recommend appropriate, proactive measures to prevent these complications. For example, if you grind your teeth, she can discuss fitting you with a custom nightguard. These nightguards protect the resin and your natural teeth from future damage. It is also important for patients to maintain routine checkups at our office in Grand Rapids, MI. During your regular visits, teeth are cleaned by our professionals, and Dr. Burggraaf evaluates the condition of your bonding. As needed, we may make repairs to ensure your bonding stays in terrific shape. 

Start the process today – call (616) 219-2659 to schedule your consultation.

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