In general, dental bonding lasts several years before a tooth may need further work. The composite resin used in indirect dental bonding is strong and durable. However, it is not as strong as your natural teeth. To protect indirect dental bonding and your teeth, don't bite your nails or chew on hard objects such as pens and pencils.
Dental Bonding
Direct dental bonding is a form of cosmetic dentistry during which a dentist corrects minor imperfections such as chips, cracks, stains and discoloration. Bonding may be used to close gaps between teeth or improve the structure of a tooth.
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RealAge answeredSee All 2 AnswersDentists use indirect dental bonding to treat decayed or damaged teeth. If you need a filling or inlay (a type of large filling), your dentist may use indirect dental bonding to create a mold. This mold will be sent to a lab, which will make the filling or inlay. If you have decay in a front tooth or the portion of a tooth that's visible when you smile, your dentist may use indirect dental bonding. -
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RealAge answeredYou should experience little discomfort if your dentist uses indirect dental bonding to repair a damaged tooth. Before starting the procedure, your dentist will give you local anesthesia. This medicine makes your mouth numb. If you have ever had a bad reaction to local anesthesia, tell your doctor. If necessary, your dentist may give you additional medicine to minimize pain and any anxiety you may be feeling.
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RealAge answeredIndirect dental bonding is a safe procedure. However, you could have problems with the filling or inlay that you receive. Indirect dental bonding uses a substance called composite resin. While composite resin is tough, it may crack or break under high pressure. Avoiding habits such as chewing your nails or biting down on pencils can help prevent this problem.
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RealAge answeredIndirect dental bonding is a technique that dentists use to repair decayed or damaged teeth. A dentist may use indirect dental bonding if you need a filling or an inlay. (Inlays are similar to fillings, but are placed in the bumps on the chewing surface of your teeth.)
With direct dental bonding, a dentist uses material called composite resin to repair a damaged tooth. He or she exposes the composite to a special light to help it harden. In indirect dental bonding, the dentist takes a mold of the damaged tooth. The mold is sent to a lab, where a filling or inlay is fabricated. Fillings and inlays made by labs are exposed to high heat, which makes them strong and durable. -
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RealAge answeredIndirect dental bonding produces fillings and inlays that are strong and durable. When a dentist uses indirect dental bonding, he or she makes a mold of the damaged tooth. This mold is sent to a lab. At the lab, technicians use high heat to fabricate a filling or inlay. Exposure to high heat strengthens the material used to make the filling or inlay. Also, unlike some other materials used to repair damaged teeth (such as amalgam and gold), composite resin used in indirect dental bonding matches the natural color of your teeth.
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RealAge answeredMost likely you will not need anesthesia for indirect dental bonding. The procedure should not cause any pain. Check with your dentist if you have questions.
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RealAge answeredOne alternative to indirect dental bonding is direct dental bonding. In the latter process, a dentist uses material called composite resin to repair or improve the appearance of a decayed or damaged tooth. After applying composite resin, the dentist uses a special light to harden the material. The procedure requires only one office visit.
In indirect dental bonding, the dentist makes a mold of the damaged tooth. The mold is sent to a lab, where it is used to make a filling or inlay (a type of large filling). At a second office visit, the dentist cements the filling or inlay to the damaged tooth.
Your dentist may recommend other alternatives to indirect dental bonding, depending on your needs. They include fillings and other tooth restorations made of amalgam, gold, ceramic, or glass isomer. -
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RealAge answeredYour dentist may advise you to avoid coffee, tea, and any other food or beverage that stains teeth for a few days after you have indirect dental bonding. Smoking tobacco may cause staining, too, which is another good reason to kick the habit. Otherwise, regular brushing and flossing are the most important steps to follow after having indirect dental bonding.
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RealAge answeredThe good news is that there is no recovery period required after you undergo indirect dental bonding. You can go home and resume normal daily activities immediately after the procedure. Your dentist will caution you not to eat foods and drink beverages (such as coffee or tea) that stain teeth for a few days after you undergo indirect dental bonding.