Composite Bonding
Material added rather than healthy tooth removed, which means in most cases it can be undone. From £400 a tooth, and one appointment.
Composite bonding commonly lasts five to seven years before it needs polishing or replacing, and longer where the bite is kind to it. Because material is added rather than healthy tooth removed, it can in most cases be undone. It is from £400 a tooth at QueensWood.
- From £400 a tooth
- Nothing healthy removed
- One appointment
What it is
A tooth coloured resin, matched to the shade of your teeth, is bonded to the tooth surface, shaped by hand, hardened with a light and then polished. It is all done in the chair in a single appointment, so there is nothing to be made in a laboratory and no second visit to wait for.
The material is the same family as a white filling. The difference is the purpose: a filling repairs decay, while bonding changes shape and appearance. In most cases nothing healthy is removed, which is what makes it one of the few cosmetic treatments that can be undone.
What it is good at
Chipped or worn front edges
Rebuilt so the tooth looks whole again.
Small gaps between teeth
Closed or narrowed.
Teeth shorter than their neighbours
Lengthened to even out the line.
An uneven smile line
Evened up so the edges sit level.
Small irregularities in shape
Softened, so they catch the eye less.
Isolated discoloured patches
Covered with composite matched to the teeth around them.
The real advantage, and what it means for your teeth
Bonding
Additive
Material is added to your tooth. For practical purposes it is reversible: composite can be polished off and the tooth underneath is still your tooth.
Veneers and crowns
Subtractive
Require healthy enamel to be removed, permanently. Once that is done there is no going back to your own teeth.
For a patient in their twenties, that is a decision with fifty years attached to it
So where bonding will get you most of what you want, we would rather do bonding. It costs less, it takes one appointment, and it leaves your options open. We will tell you honestly when it will not be enough.
What it will and will not do
It Will
Change the shape, length and edges of your teeth, close small gaps and even up a smile line, all in a single appointment. In most cases no healthy tooth is removed, and the composite can be repaired or added to later.
It Will Not
Change the underlying colour of your teeth, because the composite is matched to the shade you already have. It will not move a tooth that is genuinely out of line, and it will not last as long as porcelain. It needs maintaining, which usually means polishing along the way and some repair or replacement over the years.
Three things worth knowing first
Whiten first, bond afterwards
Composite is matched to the shade you already have. Doing it the other way round means the bonding no longer matches.
It will not straighten teeth
Aligners first will give a better result and often need less composite afterwards.
It will not last as long as porcelain
It stains and can chip. Expect polishing and some repair over the years, and we will tell you what that costs before you start.
And it is not right for every mouth
Bonding is not the answer in every mouth, and we will tell you so at the consultation rather than after we have started. It needs a sound layer of enamel to bond to, and it needs the mouth around it to be healthy. Where bonding is likely to keep failing, we will say so and talk you through what would work better.
Heavy wear or very little enamel
There may not be enough sound enamel left for the composite to hold onto.
Active gum disease
Gum disease is treated first, before any cosmetic work is considered.
A heavy grinding habit
Grinding puts more force through a bonded edge than it is built to take.
Living with it
No fingernails, ice or opening packets with your teeth
Treat bonded edges as you would your own teeth, and avoid biting directly into anything very hard.
It stains, so red wine, coffee and black tea will show sooner
Composite picks up stain more readily than natural enamel. Polishing at your hygienist appointments keeps it looking its best.
If you grind, a night guard will extend its life considerably
A guard worn at night takes the force off the bonded edges. Do ask us and we will sort one out for you.
What composite bonding costs
Composite bonding, per tooth
Most cases involve between two and eight teeth. We will quote the whole plan before anything starts.
From £400
Smile design consultation
Where several teeth are involved, or bonding is one part of a larger plan.
From £175
Ways to pay
You will have a written treatment plan and costing before anything begins. QueensWood Plan members receive a complimentary 10% discount.
See plans and pricingBook an appointment
Where bonding will get you most of what you want, we would rather do bonding.
Questions we are often asked
If you have any questions about cost, please ask. We would far rather answer a question about price on the phone than have you wondering about it.
How much does composite bonding cost?
From £400 a tooth. Most cases involve between two and eight teeth, and we will quote the whole plan before anything starts.
How long does it take?
One appointment. Allow two to three hours for several teeth.
Can bonding be removed later?
For practical purposes yes. Composite can be polished off and the tooth underneath is still your tooth, because in most cases nothing healthy is removed.
How long does it last?
Not as long as porcelain. It stains and can chip, so expect polishing along the way and some repair or replacement over the years. We will tell you what that costs before you start.
Is it reversible?
In most cases, yes, and that is the real advantage over veneers and crowns, which require healthy enamel to be removed permanently.
Will it match my teeth?
It is matched to the shade you already have, in daylight wherever possible, because artificial light misleads. If you are planning to whiten, whiten first and bond afterwards.
Can it stain?
Yes. Composite picks up stain more readily than natural enamel, so red wine, coffee and black tea will show sooner. Polishing at your hygienist appointments keeps it looking its best.
Bonding or veneers?
Bonding adds material, veneers remove it. Where bonding will get you most of what you want, we would rather do bonding, because it costs less, takes one appointment and leaves your options open. We will tell you honestly when it will not be enough.