If you want to alter your smile, there are several things you may consider: the shape, color, and function of your teeth. You may want a whiter smile, or you may wish for a more symmetrical smile. Additionally, you may want to fix minor imperfections. If you think that this requires more than one type of treatment, you would be wrong. In fact, dental bonding can cosmetically change your smile in many ways. 

Whitening Treatment

When you think of brightening your smile, you probably think of whitening treatments. They are a convenient way to make your smile whiter, and they are widely available. A quick trip to a local convenience store will reveal aisles dedicated to tooth health.

Depending on your preference, you can select whitening toothpaste, trays, lights, strips, and more. At-home whitening treatments can take longer and may not brighten your smile as much as a professional whitening treatment. Your dentist can offer a quick, simple procedure to brighten your teeth in many shades. 

For many patients, whitening treatments can lighten the shades of their teeth. However, certain conditions limit the ability of bleaching chemicals to brighten your teeth. For example, dental trauma can cause dark spots deep within the tooth. The trauma can leave brown or black spots on your teeth. Unfortunately, whitening treatments cannot alter these colors. Additionally, some medications can darken your teeth, leaving them yellowed or graying. 

Yet, your dentist can utilize dental bonding to camouflage any discoloration. What once seemed like impossible trouble spots can be covered with dental bonding. Your dentist can give you your smile back.

Chipped or Broken Teeth

A chipped tooth is more than a nuisance or a mar in your smile. Any break in the enamel can put you at risk of developing tooth decay. Your enamel is a protective barrier that guards the inner portions of your teeth. Inside your teeth lies delicate nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. If a chip has damaged your enamel, the inside of your tooth is exposed. Slowly, the chip or break can become larger. Alternatively, the chip will erode more quickly since the enamel is weak. 

If you notice a chip or a break in your tooth, you should tell your dentist as soon as possible. They will apply dental bonding at your next appointment. This will do several things. First, it will stop the erosion process, slowing the wearing away of your tooth. Second, it will prevent tooth decay. Finally, your dentist will be able to restore the original structure of your tooth, making it look like the damage never happened. 

Tooth Shape

Your dentist can also use dental bonding to alter the shape of your tooth physically. If you have teeth that are misshapen or smaller than average, your dentist can utilize dental bonding to give you the smile of your dreams. You don’t have to undergo intense procedures to change your teeth. In fact, you may only need one quick appointment with dental bonding.