Gaps between the teeth can be treated with dental bonding. This is good news because space between teeth is the fourth most common dental insecurity among Americans. If you’ve always wanted to close a dental gap and are thinking about seeing your local cosmetic dentist, here’s what you need to know about the procedure.

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure that’s used to close unwanted gaps between teeth. Common causes of gaps between teeth include having small teeth, missing teeth, or gaps caused by natural skeletal development. A person can also lose their baby teeth when they’re too young, leading to misaligned teeth later on in life. To correct this, your local cosmetic dentist will make use of a tooth-colored composite resin.

This is also the same type of material that’s used to fix chipped and cracked teeth. Your dentist then carefully creates a resin that’s sculpted to perfectly match the shape and size of your dental gap. That way, when you smile, it will look beautiful and natural and no one will be able to tell the difference. The good news is dental bonding is a simple and straightforward procedure that can be completed in a single visit.

What Else Do I Need to Know About Dental Bonding?

Now that you know the basics of dental bonding treatment, here are a few other factors to keep in mind:

• Prior to the procedure, you may need some orthodontic treatment such as braces. This is because your teeth need to be positioned properly for the dental bonding treatment to be effective.
• During the procedure, your cosmetic dentist will need to roughen the gap area to ensure the bonding material sticks adequately to it.
• Also, depending on the size of the gap, the area might need to be numbed to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure.
• Dental bonding may not be right for you if you’re a regular smoker or coffee drinker. That is because the bonding material is porous and can easily stain and become yellow in appearance. They may also not be good for you if you bite your fingernails or like to chew on stuff as this might necessitate frequent repairs.

The information above can help you prepare for your dental bonding procedure. One last thing: Be sure to shop around and do your research when looking for the best local cosmetic dentist.