Cosmetic Care
Composite Bonding
The most conservative cosmetic option there is — added to the tooth rather than cut out of it.
What it is
Bonding adds material to a tooth instead of removing it. That single fact makes it the first thing we consider and the last thing we talk people out of.
Composite is sculpted directly onto the tooth, shaped by hand and polished to match the surrounding enamel. It closes small gaps, rebuilds chipped corners, lengthens worn edges and evens out a tooth that sits slightly out of line. Most cases are finished in a single appointment with no anaesthetic at all.
It is not as hard as porcelain and it will pick up stain at the margins over the years, so it needs a polish at recall and replacing eventually. In exchange, it is reversible in a way a veneer is not — which for a lot of people is the deciding factor.
Included
What this
involves
Everything below is carried out here, by the clinician who planned it. Anything not on this list is either not needed or will be discussed with you before it is booked.
- Chip and fracture repair
- Closing small gaps and black triangles
- Rebuilding worn edges
- Reshaping uneven teeth
- Usually one visit, often no anaesthetic
- Polish and maintenance at recall
The aim is a smile nobody compliments on the dentistry — only on how well you look.
Common questions
Good To Know
- How long does bonding last?
- Typically five to eight years before it wants replacing, longer with a nightguard if you grind. It is polished at each recall to keep the margins clean.
- Will it stain?
- Composite picks up stain at the edges over time, more so with coffee, tea, red wine and smoking. A polish at your hygiene visit deals with most of it.
- Bonding or veneers?
- Bonding where the change is modest and you would rather keep the tooth untouched; veneers where the shape, shade or alignment change is beyond what composite will hold. We will tell you honestly which one your case is.
More in this area
Cosmetic Care
Porcelain Veneers
Thin ceramic facings for shape, colour and proportion — trialled before they are made.
Learn MoreTeeth Whitening
Supervised whitening that lifts the shade without lifting the sensitivity.
Learn MoreGum Contouring
Reshaping an uneven or gummy smile line so the teeth look the right length.
Learn More
Considering composite bonding?
Come in for a consultation. We will examine, explain and give you a written plan with a price against every item — then you decide, in your own time.