You’ve just received a good report from your Washington, DC dentist, Dr. Yelena Obholz. Yet, you are dissatisfied with how your smile looks. You have a chipped tooth and some gaps between your bottom front teeth. What can be done? Ask Dr. Obholz. She’ll tell you about the advantages of composite resin bonding–also called cosmetic bonding. It’s a simple aesthetic treatment that works wonders to improve smile appearance and patient self-image.
What is Composite Resin Bonding?
It’s simple, really. Dr. Obholz takes a healthy tooth and resurfaces it with a unique combination of acrylic and glass that is tooth-colored and very natural looking. She can use it to fill in several kinds of aesthetic defects such as:
- Gaps
- Chips
- Hairline fractures
- Mild overcrowding
- Pits
- Odd shape
She can also use it to bond in and smooth a permanent retainer to preserve tooth alignment. Actually, the material is so versatile and the procedure so simple that your skilled cosmetic dentist in Washington, DC employs bonding for any number of situations. Additionally, the material is very strong and lasts for years.
How Bonding Works
Say, for instance, that the patient has a small gap between her two front teeth on the upper arch. These teeth are right in that all important “smile zone” that everyone sees when we talk, laugh or smile.
After ensuring the teeth are healthy, the dentist gently etches the appropriate tooth surfaces with a special chemical. She may sand them gently as well to ensure the composite resin takes hold.
She then applies the proper shade of resin, filling the gap and sculpting the material for right thickness and smoothness. This is where the artistry of a skilled cosmetic dentist comes into play.
After a final shaping, Dr. Obholz hardens the resin with a special curing light. She polishes the teeth to a bright, shining finish.
Caring for Bonded Teeth
Teeth bonded with composite resin are strong and stain resistant. Dr. Obholz recommends usual oral hygiene at home and every six-months at Aesthetic & Family Dentistry of Washington. She recommends avoiding extra-hard foods such as peanut brittle and ice. She also tells patients to refrain from chewing non-food items such as pencil tops and from opening bottles and plastic packaging with their teeth–bonded or not!
Other Cosmetic Dentistry Options
Besides bonding, Dr. Obholz and her team offer professional teeth whitening, tooth-colored fillings, porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns and other treatments which improve the look and health of your teeth. As a student of the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies, Dr. Obholz is highly skilled in all types of dental treatments, including restorative and of course, preventive services. You can trust your oral health and personal appearance to her capable hands and practiced artistic eye!
Contact Aesthetic & Family Dentistry of Washington to arrange a cosmetic dentistry consultation. You’ll discover the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.