Cosmetic dental bonding is a simple way to improve the look of your smile. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we typically use bonding to close spaces in teeth, replace worn enamel, re-shape crooked or misaligned teeth, repair broken teeth, and cover stains that tooth whitening treatments cannot remove. While dental bonding works well and looks great, you must take care of your bonded teeth to maintain a flawless smile for years to come.
Useful Maintenance Tips
The durability of dental bonding is relative to how well you take care of your bonded teeth. Bonding typically lasts anywhere from 3-7 years, depending on post-operative care. Unlike porcelain veneers, dental bonding does stain and can chip easily. The following is a list of ways you can preserve the bonding on your teeth.
- Bonding lasts longer when it is clean. That means the good oral hygiene habits you practice to prevent cavities can also help preserve your bonded teeth. You should brush at least twice daily and floss once a day. You should also avoid starchy foods and sweets.
- Professional maintenance helps keep bonding shiny and new, but an ordinary dental hygienist may not possess the skills and training to clean teeth properly, while simultaneously preserving bonded teeth. Regular professional dental cleaning techniques can change the texture of your bonded teeth. Special polishing pastes are required to restore shine. Common tooth-cleaning products like pastes with pumice, ultrasonic scaling devices, and air-polishing tools can damage your bonded teeth.
- Certain toothpastes are harsh and can dull bonding. They also increase the chances your bonded teeth will stain. Use toothpaste intended for bonded teeth. Rembrandt toothpaste is available in stores, and is safe for bonded teeth.
- Hard-bristled toothbrushes are also bad for bonded teeth. Use soft-bristled brushes to avoid damage.
- Use common sense. If you feel any snags or rough spots on your teeth, let us know, and we can smooth those areas before they become a problem.
- Alcoholic beverages cause bonding to deteriorate at a faster rate than normal. While occasional alcohol use is not a problem, heavy drinking will damage the resilience of your bonding. You should also avoid coffee, tea, and smoking, because they can stain bonded teeth.
Schedule an Appointment
If you have questions about how to maintain your cosmetic dental work, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fondriest, please call our Lake Forest dentist office at (847) 234-0517. We serve the Chicago, Illinois area, including the North Shore suburbs of Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Barrington.
