Those who suffer from a decayed tooth or a cracked one, perhaps gaps or discoloration may be looking at what is cosmetic bonding. If that sounds unfamiliar, you may know it as dental or tooth bonding and can be the solution to you’re looking for. Of course, you’d want to know if it hurts or how much tooth bonding costs without insurance, as well as knowing the details of the procedure.
It’s surprisingly simple and a great fix for an array of dental problems for how minimal of a procedure cosmetic bonding is. If you’re curious about cosmetic bonding, then look no further as you’ll find all those details here. Let’s start with what is cosmetic bonding and the details involved in getting it done.
What is Cosmetic Bonding Used For?
Cosmetic bonding is essentially bonding tooth-colored composite resin, or plastic, to repair a decayed or damaged tooth as well as filling gaps. Unlike veneers, they don’t need to be customized to you as the resin bonds to your tooth and fits accordingly. Since cosmetic bonding doesn’t require fitting, it doesn’t need to be sent to a lab and therefore is just a single office visit.
Before applying the resin, your dentist will choose the color closest to your tooth and then roughen where the cosmetic bonding is needed. Making your tooth less smooth helps the resin bond to it much better and a necessary step. Once the tooth is ready, they’ll apply the resin and mold as well as smooth it out to the best shape before hardening it with ultraviolet light.
Altogether, getting cosmetic bonding takes around 30 to 60-minutes to complete. So, what is cosmetic bonding? Quick and easy!
Does it Hurt?
Let’s put it this way, anesthesia isn’t used too often when getting cosmetic bonding. If you can survive a tooth cleaning, then you can easily get through the tooth bonding procedure. It isn’t invasive and just requires roughing the tooth a bit so the resin can bond with it. After that, you’re just sitting back in the chair waiting for it to settle in.
It’s understandable to be worried about the pain in any dental procedure, the mouth is a sensitive place. Though, if you’re uncomfortable going to the dentist no matter what you’re going in for there are some things you can do to prevent a cosmetic bonding repair visit.
The resin used in tooth bonding isn’t as strong as the tooth itself and so, if you bite your nails or chew on pens, ice cubes, or anything hard for an extended time you can chip the resin. Chipping the cosmetic bonding doesn’t hurt in and of itself but, it can have you going to the dentist for a repair frequently. Generally, the bonding lasts years before needing some upkeep though.
Another tip to prevent more cosmetic bonding trips is to avoid anything that could stain your resin for the first two days as they’ll be far more susceptible to soaking in the color. For the first 48 hours try and void things like coffee, soda, tea, and cigarettes.
While the procedure itself is painless if you are antsy about going to the dentist those are somethings to do to keep your tooth bonding as long as possible.
How Much is Tooth Bonding?
As with all things, it can come down to cost. So, how much is tooth bonding without insurance? On average it ranges between $300-$600 a tooth. Though, it’s one of the cheapest forms of cosmetic dentistry and is a popular choice over veneers.
The good news is that asking how much is tooth bonding without insurance isn’t a question you’ll have to ask often. Most insurance companies cover cosmetic bonding, especially if it’s to fill a cavity or for some structural reason. As always, it’s better to ask than to assume.
What is Cosmetic Bonding again?
Cosmetic bonding is a noninvasive procedure that uses resin to close a gap or repair a tooth. The material can last for years depending on your oral health habits and is usually covered by insurance. It’s one of the cheapest forms of cosmetic dentistry and a simple procedure that takes less than an hour. Painless, easy, and a quick fix that lasts quite some time.
So, if you’re in the market for something tooth bonding can help with then call your dentist and make an appointment to discuss it. You may even decide to get it done the same day. Also, most dental offices provide cosmetic bonding, so you won’t even have to look for a specialist.
