After Cosmetic Bonding: Aftercare Guide

Bonding is an aesthetic treatment made from composite resin. With proper care it can last for years; however, its lifespan depends largely on your usage habits, varies significantly from person to person, and is not guaranteed for any fixed period. It is not as hard a material as a porcelain veneer and has sensitive points in terms of colour, chipping and staining. The care routine below helps you keep the appearance and durability of your bonding at its best.

What to Expect After Bonding

Habits to Watch

• Biting hard objects breaks bonding. Biting objects such as ice, hard candy, pens, nails or hard-shelled nuts can cause the bonding to chip or crack at the edge. Composite material is not designed to withstand such forces; chips that occur this way are not an application fault but usage-related. When it breaks, it can usually be repaired or renewed.
• Sensitivity to staining is permanent. Composite is not as dense as natural enamel. Coffee, tea, cigarettes and red wine settle into the bonding surface over time. Compared with a porcelain veneer, bonding stains more easily with the same drinks. Drinking coloured beverages through a straw can reduce this difference.
• Clenching and grinding can break bonding. If you clench or grind your teeth at night (bruxism), please be sure to tell us. In this case, if a night guard is not used, bonding can break far sooner than expected. A night guard helps reduce this risk.
• Avoid abrasive toothpastes. Toothpastes with bold names like "charcoal", "whitening" or "smoker" are often abrasive. They can dull the glossy surface of the bonding and increase its tendency to pick up colour. Prefer a normal, fluoride toothpaste.

Bonding vs. Veneer

Bonding has both advantages and limits. Realistic expectations improve both your satisfaction and the longevity of the result.

• Bonding is done in a single session; a veneer requires two. Bonding is composite resin built up and shaped onto your tooth, finished the same day. A veneer (laminate or zirconium) is produced in a laboratory and usually requires two appointments.
• Bonding is not as long-lasting as a porcelain veneer. Composite is not as hard as porcelain, so porcelain veneers generally last longer. The lifespan of both depends on your usage habits and cannot be guaranteed for any fixed period in advance.
• Bonding stains; porcelain is more stain-resistant. This is bonding's weakest point. Over the years the bonding surface may start to look dull and discoloured. It can be corrected with polishing, but this may need to be repeated from time to time.
• Bonding is reversible; a veneer is not. Bonding involves minimal intervention on the tooth and can be fully removed if desired. With a veneer, the tooth is slightly reduced, so there is no going back. For younger patients and those looking for a temporary solution, bonding may be a more suitable choice.

This guide is for general information only. The lifespan of bonding varies from person to person depending on diet, teeth grinding, oral hygiene and usage habits, and is not guaranteed for any fixed period. Usage-related chips and breakage, such as from biting hard objects, can occur; if this happens, please contact our clinic.