Check-up and Digital Imaging
A six-monthly examination: intraoral check, digital X-ray if needed and a written summary of the day. A record is kept even when nothing is found; the next check-up is compared against it.
DetailsBonding means adding filling material to the tooth in layers and shaping it. Unlike a veneer, it is finished in the mouth in a single visit and no tooth substance is removed.
The process
- Examination; talking through shape and shade
- Preparing the surface (roughening, not cutting)
- Applying and shaping the composite layer by layer
- Polishing and checking — usually finished the same visit
Its limits
Composite is not as hard as porcelain and can pick up colour over the years; coffee, tea and smoking speed that up. For large changes across all the front teeth, or where there is a clenching habit, veneers or crowns last longer. Which suits your case is said at the first visit: bonding is not a "cheap veneer", it is a different procedure.
This page is general information and does not replace a dental examination. Whether the treatment suits you, and the method and duration, are decided only after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.
After treatment
Avoid dark drinks and smoking for the first 24 hours. Do not bite hard food with the front teeth. The polish is refreshed at the annual check-up.
The information on this page is for general guidance and does not replace a dental examination. Treatment decisions are made after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.