Bonding and Veneers

Enamel bonding can refer to two different processes…

One is the process of bonding any material, usually tooth colored composite resin, directly to tooth structure. This is a relatively new process of hydrophilic (“water-loving”) bonding agents which have taken the place of metal filling materials of the past. This material can be bonded to the enamel on the outside or within a shallow cavity of a tooth or to the dentin on the inside areas of a tooth under the enamel. In a way, all modern dentistry generally involves some level of “bonding”.

Enamel bonding also can involve securing a thin layer of putty-like filling material over the front of a tooth to build it up, improve its positioning, mask an underlying, or make it larger. This material is hardened and polished after being sculpted into shape. It many times involves less appointment time, number of visits, and investment than porcelain veneers, yet can have a shorter lifespan