Whether you are looking to address damage to a single tooth or looking to improve the look of your smile, dental bonding is a dental treatment that can help you achieve those goals. Bonding adds a putty-like resin to the surface of your teeth that can help address a damaged tooth. This can include cracked or chipped teeth, spaces between teeth, extending the length of a tooth, or simply adjusting the overall appearance of the tooth.
But how long does bonding last? While the average life expectancy for dental bonding is between three and ten years, how you care for teeth with dental bonding can help extend the lifespan.
Key takeaways
- Dental bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure designed to help improve the shape, size, and even color of your teeth, as well as repair a chipped or fractured tooth from damage, decay, or an injury.
- On average, the material used for tooth bonding lasts between three and ten years before it may need replacement to retain the appearance.
- The material used for bonding, the location of the treated teeth, and your overall oral hygiene routine all play a role in the life of your tooth bonding.
Factors that affect the longevity of tooth bonding
While tooth bonding is designed to last three to ten years, the actual lifespan depends on various factors. This can include what type of bonding and bonding material you have, which tooth or teeth have been treated, your overall oral health, and your personal habits, such as grinding your teeth.
Here we take a closer look at these factors and how they can affect your teeth.
What composite material is used?
For tooth bonding or direct bonding, the dentist applies a combination of composite resin material directly to the tooth and, once in place, hardens it into its final form with a curing light. The specific material and the curing time can affect the outcome and the life of the bonding material. For example, if even a small section of the tooth and composite material did not receive proper curing, it may become loose over time and require early replacement.
In addition to direct bonding to the tooth, you may opt for indirect bonding or adhesive bonding and use dental veneers, inlays, or onlays. In this case, the dentist begins by etching the treated tooth. They then apply a bonding agent and adhesive before attaching inlays, onlays, or porcelain veneers into place and solidifying the connection with a curing light. If you are looking for an even longer solution, inlays and onlays offer a lifespan of around 10 to 15 years, while veneers can last decades when taken care of properly.
Where is the tooth located?
The location of your treated tooth or teeth can also affect the lifespan of your tooth bonding. Chewing and biting foods can affect the lifespan of your teeth due to repeated pressure. If you have multiple teeth with bonding, for example, and grind your teeth, you may notice the tooth bonding on those teeth have a shorter lifespan.
Overall oral health
A poor oral hygiene routine and poor overall oral health can also shorten the lifespan of your tooth bonding. Following a regular oral hygiene routine that includes brushing twice a day and flossing helps to keep your teeth healthy and extend the life of the bonding material.
Personal habits
Personal habits, including your oral hygiene routine, can affect the lifespan of your tooth bonding. Eating hard foods like nuts and hard candy can loosen bonding material and weaken the composite material. Overnight tooth grinding, or bruxism, can also put extensive pressure on the tooth and bonding material, affecting the life of your tooth bonding.
The average lifespan of tooth bonding
With proper care and good oral hygiene habits, direct tooth bonding has an average lifespan of three to 10 years. If you are looking for a longer-lasting solution, indirect bonding that uses inlays, onlays, or veneers, may offer a better option as they can last anywhere from 10 years to decades with proper care.
When do you need to replace dental bonding?
Tooth bonding should look and feel like your natural tooth. If you notice small changes in the appearance of your tooth or feel bumps or sharp edges, it may be time to call your dentist to repair or replace existing composite material. Don’t delay when you notice these changes, as damage or wear and tear on the bonding material can put your natural tooth at risk of chipping or other damage. A loose bonding can also allow food particles and bacteria to become trapped against your tooth surface, making you more vulnerable to tooth decay.
Tips to help extend the life of dental bonding
While we have already mentioned that good oral hygiene is essential to extending the life of your tooth bonding, as well as helping to promote good overall oral health, these tips can also help keep your dental bonding in good condition.
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- Attend regular dental checkups. Not only does regular dental care help keep your teeth healthy and allows the dentist to identify potential concerns with tooth bonding and address them before they become a problem.
- Avoid chewing on hard objects. This includes food such as nuts and hard candy, but it can also include pens and pencils, fingernails, and ice cubes.
- The composite material can stain, causing discoloration of your tooth bonding. Avoid eating and drinking items that can stain, such as tea, coffee, wine, and berries. Consider drinking these beverages with a straw to avoid contact with the teeth, or brush your teeth soon after drinking or eating these items.
- If you have tooth bonding to address wear and tear on your teeth due to teeth grinding, the same damage can happen with your tooth bonding. Talk to your dentist about wearing a night guard to protect your teeth and tooth bonding from regular grinding.
Keeping your smile shining bright
Tooth bonding is a cost-effective and quick solution to help repair minor tooth damage, address tooth length and shape concerns, cover chips and cracks, and improve the overall appearance of your smile. Following a good oral hygiene routine and avoiding things that may cause damage will help you extend the life of your tooth bonding and enjoy your new smile for years to come.
Addressing all your dental bonding concerns
Whether you already have tooth bonding that may need replacement or are considering changes to your smile that can include direct bonding or indirect bonding, the team at Soundview Family Dental is here to help you achieve the beautiful smile you are looking for. To learn more about how we can help, schedule an appointment today.
