Dental bonding is a restoration procedure in which a tooth covered resin material is applied to a patient's teeth using dental adhesives and fixing them in place using ultraviolet light. The term bonding has a broader range of applications as these procedures are commonly used in pediatric/cosmetic dentistry, prosthodontics as well as orthodontics.

The name bonding, because the materials are bonded to the tooth. Bonding is faster and cheaper than veneers or crowns and thus it is typically used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It also helps to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth. The best part of dental bonding being its simple procedures, it's the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. Bonding can be done within one office visit itself.

Bonding agents can be defined as a material of low viscosity when applied to the tooth surface and forms a thin film after setting.

Dental Bonding id used for:

• To repair decayed teeth
• To repair chipped or cracked teeth
• To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
• To close spaces between teeth
• To make teeth look longer
• To change the shape of teeth
• As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
• To protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede

How it's done:

• The procedure of bonding begins with the consultation with a dentist; they determine the exact color shade for your teeth to blend naturally with the remaining teeth.
• Preparation of the bonding material to adhere easier
• Etching the surface of patients tooth to roughen it
• Application of the tooth-colored resin and its molded until its achieves the proper shape
• Hardening the material using ultraviolet light or laser
• Dentist proceeds with the shaping and polishing resin for the good fit.