Composite Bonding and Veneers Birmingham

As with all of our treatments, the key is to start with a thorough initial consultation. This is to ensure that you are happy with everything that is involved with your treatment, including the options available, the costs and the full process.

Your dentist will discuss all the available options with you, including how many teeth should be treated to give you the best result. Often 8 to 10 teeth are treated to give a fuller more symmetrical smile.

Caring for your composite bonding effectively will determine its longevity. With good care, composite bonding can last between 5-7 years. Yearly repolishing and regular visits to the dentist and hygienist will help to keep it looking fresh and help deal with any stain that may build up around the edges. A time will come however when the composite will need to be removed and replaced, or at least resurfaced, to restore its shine and natural appearance.

It is important to remember that composite bonding isn’t quite as strong as a natural tooth, so it’s important to employ a bit of caution when eating or chewing anything hard. A perfect excuse to give up any nail-biting or pen-chewing habits! When it comes to foodstuffs, as with natural teeth, composite bonding can stain, so we recommend you avoid tea, coffee, red wine, smoking and food which may stain for 48 hours after having the procedure done, and ideally permanently adjust your intake to preserve the colour of composite and minimise staining. Whitening treatments can also help minimise staining. Brushing your teeth often and seeing the hygienist regularly will help to preserve your composite bonding whilst maintaining good oral health.

The two main risks are chipping and staining. Chipping can occur either due to a tooth-grinding habit you may have or due to biting on something hard. If your dentist identifies any signs that you may grind your teeth, he or she may recommend that you wear a mouthguard at night to protect the composites. We highly recommend that you avoid chewing hard things to minimise the risk of the composite chipping.

Staining usually occurs at the edges of the composite, where it meets the natural tooth. Immaculate oral hygiene and minimising the intake of foods and drinks that can stain teeth (ex: tea, coffee, red wine) will help minimise the stain build-up. Seeing the hygienist regularly for professional cleanings is also highly recommended. Your dentist will also likely want to see you periodically to re-polish the composites.

Porcelain veneers are a more durable, but more expensive alternative option to composite bonding. These do require some removal of tooth structure and more visits to complete.

Tooth straightening sometimes can be viewed as an alternative to composite bonding. But more often than not it is advisable to straighten the teeth and then carry out the composite bonding for the best results. The same can be said for tooth whitening treatment.