How Does Dental Bonding Differ From Dental Fillings?

When you have tooth decay or damage, you must trust your dentist to do a good job. You can do so at Model Dental Clinic. However, we want like you to be aware of the most recent and cutting-edge dental technology we use in our office, such as dental bonding. Dental bonding is a modern and improved version of a traditional silver filling used to repair tooth damage and decay. Below is an explanation and comparison of dental bonding to conventional silver fillings.

What Exactly Is a Dental Filling?

A dental filling is a direct restoration used to repair a decayed or damaged tooth and is frequently the first line of defense in an exposed tooth. During this procedure, your dentist in Columbia, MD will numb the area with an anesthetic and begin by removing any decayed/structurally unstable portions of the natural tooth. After the tooth has been properly prepared, the “filling” procedure can begin.

What Exactly Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is essentially the same procedure as using a dental filling material to fill in, develop up, or otherwise repair a natural tooth. While “filling” is commonly used to improve a cavity, bonding is a more cosmetic term.

It refers to any treatment in which a product is used to change the shape, color, or other visual aspects of the tooth. The product is frequently composite resin, and anesthesia is not always required. Therefore, this is frequently the most cost-effective option when looking for a cosmetic enhancement to one’s teeth.

Differences Between Dental Bonding and Dental Fillings

Dental fillings defer from bonding in the following ways:

• • Material

The primary distinction between bonding and a silver filling is the material used in the filling. The material used in a traditional filling is known as amalgam. It is a metal alloy made of mercury, silver, tin, and copper that takes about 24 hours to harden completely.

The material used in dental bonding by your dentist in Columbia, MD, is a composite of acrylic and ceramic that is hardened by light, so it hardens instantly. Both materials can be shaped to fit your teeth, but the composite material used in bonding is far easier to work with and mold. There are several differences between the two because they are made of different materials.

• • Coloring

We’ve all seen an amalgam filling: a silver splotch in the center of a normally white tooth. Amalgam fillings aren’t the most appealing thing on the planet. On the other hand, bonding does not make an impression in your mouth. Dental bonding is virtually undetectable once it is in place. The composite material’s natural color is white, which can be custom-made to match your tooth color, making it one of the most adaptable tools we use daily. This also means that no one — not even you — will ever notice your filling. One of the main reasons we like to use bonding in our dentistry is for this reason. It keeps our patients’ teeth sparkling white.

• • Durability

Another distinction between bonding and traditional filling is durability. The composite material used in bonding is extremely long-lasting, with a lifespan of up to ten years. On the other hand, amalgam can last up to 15 years because it is a metal.

This slight difference is significant but not a major disadvantage for bonding, as bonding seals the tooth better in many cases. It is still a very strong material that will last a long time. As you can see, although bonding does not last as long as amalgam, it has advantages that a traditional silver filling does not.

• • Uses

While amalgam is only used for fillings, bonding can help solve various tooth problems. For example, composite bonding is used to repair chipped teeth, repair tooth decay, change the color of your teeth, and in some cases, change the shape of your teeth due to the coloring and flexibility of the composite material used in bonding.

Getting dental bonding near you is one of the most convenient and affordable ways to change the appearance of your teeth in terms of cosmetic dentistry.
The most important factor to consider when getting a traditional filling or dental bonding is how it will appear. Without a doubt, dental bonding looks better. However, if you want durability, amalgam is the way to go.