Should I Whiten My Teeth Before Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is an excellent restorative solution for aesthetic and functional problems. You can benefit from dental bonding, whether your teeth are stained, cracked, chipped, or misshapen. You might need other cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening along with dental bonding. There’s often the question of which treatment should come first.

Dental Bonding Procedure

Before dental bonding, the dentist will begin by examining your tooth damage and discussing your needs. If necessary, the dentist might also take dental X-rays. If you’re eligible, the dentist will schedule you accordingly.

The dental bonding procedure is easy. The dentist will guide you to select a composite resin material that closely matches the color of your natural teeth. It ensures that the bonded tooth blends well with the rest of your natural teeth. Next, an etching solution is applied to roughen the tooth. The dentist applies a conditioning liquid to allow the bonding material to bond to the tooth easily.

Then, the dentist applies the putty-like composite resin material to the tooth. The material is molded and smoothened to provide the desired shape. The dentist uses a special light or laser to harden the bonding material. Lastly, the tooth is polished to provide an esthetically appealing smile. The entire procedure takes about 30 – 60 minutes. Contact our dentist in Raynham, MA, for dental bonding.

Teeth Whitening Procedure

If your teeth are stained, whitening is the most cost-effective and quickest way to whiten your smile. Teeth whitening is offered by dentists, while DIY whitening kits are available in the local store.

Which one should come first? Teeth whitening or dental bonding?

One of the crucial considerations to keep in mind is that the bonding material doesn’t respond to teeth whitening or bleaching. When bonding the tooth, the dentist chooses a resin material that closely matches the color of the rest of your teeth. Therefore, whitening your teeth after dental bonding will create a non-uniform smile where your natural teeth look brighter than the bonded tooth.

While your natural tooth is porous, the composite resin isn’t. The porous nature of your natural tooth makes it easy for the bleaching agents to penetrate through the tooth’s enamel and remove stains for a bright and dazzling smile.

Since the bonding material is nonporous, it behaves differently from the natural teeth. It’s a little bit more resistant to stains than natural teeth. Still, its nonporous nature prevents the whitening agents from changing the color of your restoration.

That said, you should whiten your teeth before dental bonding. You can get dental bonding once you are happy with the teeth whitening results. The dentist will use a resin material shade that closely matches the color of your newly whitened teeth.

If your teeth become discolored after the dental bonding, your dentist can replace the bonding material to restore your beautiful smile. Alternatively, the dentist can place a dental veneer or crown to brighten your smile.

Tips for maintaining a bright smile

Fortunately, certain tips can help you maintain a bright smile after teeth whitening and dental bonding treatments. These include:

• Brush and floss regularly.
• Quit tobacco use.
• Avoid or limit consumption of staining food items like coffee, tea, red wine, berries, curries, and tomato sauce. Of you must take these items, make sure you brush or rinse your mouth thoroughly.
• Schedule regular oral checkups and cleanings.
• Eat healthier and hydrate well.
• Avoid abrasive oral products.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you need dental bonding and teeth whitening treatments, it’s best to whiten your teeth before the bonding procedure. Maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding staining habits will keep your natural and bonded teeth looking bright and beautiful for extended periods. For more information about teeth whitening and dental bonding in Raynham, MA, contact Raynham Dental Group.