Bonding & Shaping.

Some stains are difficult to remove with bleaching. In the cases where veneers aren’t necessary, bonding may be an option for you. Capitol Dental uses tooth color bonding to repair gaps in teeth, spots or stains, and chipped teeth.

Unlike porcelain veneers, teeth bonding is applied directly to the tooth and cured to its final hardness, usually with a light. In order to help the composite bond to the tooth, the tooth is prepared by lightly roughening the area to be repaired, which usually doesn’t require anesthetic. Then the surface of the tooth is etched, a thin, clear bonding agent is applied, and then the composite is applied.

Tooth shaping involves removing a small amount (generally 1 to 2 millimeters) of the enamel of the teeth. Tooth shaping can shorten long teeth, round off pointed teeth, and help create a pleasing smile that gently follows the contour of the lower lip. The procedure is quick and painless (the enamel has no nerves), and is usually completed in less than 30 minutes. A small minority of patients gets slight sensitivity after tooth shaping.