In dental bonding, a tooth-colored composite resin is applied to repair a chipped, decayed, fractured, or discolored tooth. The material bonds to the tooth, which is why the procedure is called bonding. Unlike veneers, which are fabricated in a dental laboratory, bonding can be performed in a single visit.

Bonding is among the easiest, least expensive, and quickest cosmetic dental procedures. Composite resin can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth for beautiful, natural-looking results. See Pasadena cosmetic dentist, Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. to find out how bonding can improve your smile.

Dental Bonding Uses

Bonding can be used to correct a range of cosmetic and oral health issues. Its uses include:

Repairing decayed teeth (filling cavities)
Repairing chipped or cracked teeth
Closing spaces between the teeth
Improving the appearance of discolored teeth
Making the teeth appear longer
Changing the shape of the teeth
Protecting the portion of a tooth’s roots exposed by receding gums

Dental Bonding Before and Afters

How Dental Bonding Is Performed

No preparation is required for dental bonding, and unless it is performed to fill a decayed tooth, anesthesia is not usually needed. Dr. Molayem will carefully match a composite resin to the color of your teeth. She will slightly roughen the surface of the tooth and coat it lightly with a liquid to help the bonding material adhere.

Next she will apply the tooth-colored resin, mold it, and smooth it into the proper shape, then harden the material with a laser or ultraviolet light. Once the bonding material is hardened, Dr. Molayem will trim and shape it further and polish the material until the sheen matches the rest of the tooth. The entire bonding procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour.

Dental Bonding Pros and Cons

Bonding has many cosmetic uses, and it can also be used as an alternative to amalgam fillings and to protect the exposed roots of a tooth. It is one of the least expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures. Unless multiple teeth are being treated, it can usually be performed in one short office visit. It requires little or no tooth enamel removal, and most bonding procedures can be performed without anesthesia.

The down side is that the materials used in bonding are not as strong as your natural teeth and can be chipped by activities such as biting the fingernails. Bonding is not as strong as crowns, veneers, or fillings, and not as stain resistant as crowns. After a few years, it will probably need to be repaired.

Dental Bonding in Pasadena

Bonding is a fast, effective, inexpensive restoration procedure to treat a range of cosmetic dental issues. It can also be used as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings for repairing teeth with decay. Although bonding lacks the strength of a crown or veneer, it may be ideal for certain cosmetic improvements.

Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. serves Pasadena and the surrounding area, performing integrated, conservative general and cosmetic dentistry procedures. After a consultation in our office with Dr. Molayem, she can advise you about whether bonding will be a recommended restorative procedure to enhance your smile.

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Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

May 2020

Dear Valued Patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

All patients must wear a mask when entering the office.

Anyone accompanying you will be asked to wait in their vehicle.

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.

Upon arrival at your appointment your temperature will be taken for the safety of all staff and patients.

Prior to receiving treatment you will be asked to rinse with an antimicrobial for a minimum of 30 seconds

We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.

You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.

UV Air purifiers have been placed throughout the office.

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time, so we ask that you do your best to be on time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (626)798-7834 or visit our website at pasadenasmilecenter@yahoo.com.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely, Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. & Team