What Happens During Composite Bonding: Step by Step
Composite bonding generally follows these steps: shade, isolation, etching, layering, curing, shaping and polishing. At Deepcar Dental Care, direct bonding usually needs no drilling and no injection, and typically takes around 1 hour for one chipped tooth and 3 hours 20 minutes for eight to ten teeth, each a single visit in suitable cases. Other appointments are included, such as a hygiene visit beforehand and a review 2 weeks after.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, the practice's principal dentist, reviewed this page. He is a General Dental Practitioner (GDC 301711) with a BDS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Leeds), PG Cert in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry and PG Dip in Implant Dentistry. Patients describe the practice in their own words in our patient reviews.
What is the composite bonding procedure?
The composite bonding procedure adds tooth-coloured resin composite to a tooth, sets it with a curing light, then shapes and polishes it. At Deepcar Dental Care, our cosmetic dentists carry out this form of reshaping teeth with composite, using a premium composite system selected to suit the case.
This page describes direct bonding, built on the tooth in the chair, and its timings apply to direct bonding only. Indirect, laboratory-made composite veneers are also available, with no laboratory work sent overseas. Each type is described among the options in the bonding treatments section.
What happens before bonding starts?
Before bonding starts, the planned shape is designed and tried in your mouth, and any gum disease or decay is treated first.
At Deepcar Dental Care, bonding treatment includes a consultation, photographs, an intraoral scan, a wax-up or digital design, and a mock-up in your mouth. A hygiene visit before treatment is also included.
A mock-up copies the planned shape on to your teeth in temporary material, which a dental school leaflet describes as a way to see how it will look before treatment. It is the moment to say if the shape does not feel like you. Crowded teeth can be treated with aligners first, and bonding is ideally done once aligner treatment has finished. Whitening first is optional. If you are still working out which option suits, start there.
How is the composite shade chosen?
In general, the composite shade is chosen at the start, while your teeth are still moist, because teeth look lighter as they dry out.
A study of tooth colour found that teeth looked whiter as they dried, and recommends matching the shade before anything that dries them.
How are the teeth kept dry during bonding?
In general, the teeth are kept clean and dry during bonding, because moisture can stop composite sticking properly.
A dental school leaflet on composite build-ups notes that they are often done under a rubber dam, a rubber sheet that keeps the teeth dry. A review of adhesion protocols calls isolating the working area essential to prevent contamination.
How is the tooth surface prepared for bonding?
In general, the tooth surface is prepared by etching, then a bonding agent is applied.
An acid gel is applied to the enamel, typically for around 15 to 30 seconds, and rinsed off, then the bonding agent is applied and set with a blue light. A review describes enamel bonding after phosphoric acid etching as highly predictable, and the chemistry is explained under how composite bonds to enamel.
Book a composite bonding consultation online or call 0114 288 2121.
Does composite bonding involve drilling or an injection?
Direct bonding usually needs no drilling and no injection at Deepcar Dental Care, because composite is added to the tooth rather than cut into it.
Some cases are exceptions. A study of composite veneer techniques notes that direct composite veneers need no tooth preparation in several cases, and usually less than laboratory-made veneers. A General Dental Council clinical adviser describes bonding as often done with minimal, if any, visible removal of tooth tissue, and lists removal not discussed or agreed among complaints, so any shaping should be agreed first. If an injection is needed, numbing gel is applied first, as before every injection at Deepcar Dental Care. Enamel is covered on our page about whether bonding harms your teeth.
How is the composite layered on the tooth?
In general, composite is built up in small amounts, called incremental layering, or, with injection moulding, injected into a clear guide.
At Deepcar Dental Care, the technique is chosen case by case: freehand sculpting, a silicone key made from a wax-up, or injection moulding. Composite is placed as a single shade or several layered shades, depending on the case.
What does the curing light do?
The curing light sets the composite hard, and in general each layer or fill is set before the next is added.
A review of curing lights explains that the blue light activates ingredients called photoinitiators, which start the reaction that hardens composite.
How is composite bonding shaped?
Once the composite is set, it is shaped to the planned outline and any excess material is removed.
Shaping is also called contouring. A study of composite finishing describes this finishing step as creating the anatomical shape and removing excess material. In general, shaping refines the edges and the line where composite meets your tooth, and the bite is checked, because bonding can change how your teeth meet.
How is composite bonding polished?
In general, polishing is the last step, giving the composite a smooth shine that resembles natural enamel.
A study of composite finishing notes that polishing gives a natural look resembling enamel, while rough composite discolours and collects plaque. At Deepcar Dental Care, bonding includes a final polish appointment. Our page on why polish matters for composite bonding explains how composite keeps or loses its shine.
How does composite bonding look and feel when you leave?
Composite bonding is set hard by the curing light before you leave, so you see the new shape at the end of the appointment.
In general, your own teeth may look slightly lighter at first because they have dried out. A study of tooth colour cites research in which dried teeth regained their shade after rehydrating.
A General Dental Council clinical adviser notes that bonding can affect speech and the bite, so a period of adjustment may be needed, and the material may need adjusting if problems persist.
If an edge feels rough or the bonding catches when you bite, contact the practice. An aftercare kit is included, and you can browse the aftercare section for day-to-day care.
How long does composite bonding take?
At Deepcar Dental Care, direct bonding of one chipped tooth typically takes around 1 hour, and eight to ten teeth around 3 hours 20 minutes.
These are typical chair times for direct bonding. They vary by case, and in suitable cases each is a single visit:
| Teeth treated | Typical chair time | Bonding visits |
|---|---|---|
| One chipped tooth | Around 1 hour | Single visit |
| Four teeth | Around 2 hours | Single visit |
| Six teeth | Around 3 hours | Single visit |
| Eight to ten teeth | Around 3 hours 20 minutes | Single visit |
The treatment also includes other appointments, among them a hygiene visit before treatment and a review appointment 2 weeks after.
What are the limits of composite bonding?
Composite bonding is not risk free: composite can chip, stain or roughen, and needs upkeep. Direct bonding typically lasts around five years, varying from person to person.
A General Dental Council clinical adviser warns that calling bonding simple, reversible or risk free risks misleading patients and undermines valid consent. For direct bonding at Deepcar Dental Care, a night guard is required for patients who grind, charged separately, and a professional re-polish is recommended every 6 months. Composite bonding starts from £300 per tooth, and our page on what it costs sets out the fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is composite bonding painful?
Direct composite bonding usually needs no injection at Deepcar Dental Care, but no treatment can be promised free of discomfort. A dental school leaflet on composite fillings notes that some people feel sensitivity afterwards and advises raising it with the dental professional if it persists.
Is a hygiene visit part of bonding treatment?
Yes. At Deepcar Dental Care, a hygiene visit before treatment is included, and gum disease and decay are treated first. For home care, a dental school leaflet on composite build-ups advises brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth.
Will my bite feel different after bonding?
It can feel different at first. If worn teeth are built up, a dental school leaflet notes that some teeth may temporarily not meet. Most patients get used to this within 1 to 2 weeks, and the bite usually takes 6 to 7 months to settle, though it can take up to 24 months.
Can composite bonding be removed later?
Composite can be removed, but not always without a trace. A General Dental Council clinical adviser notes that removing it completely without altering or damaging enamel is extremely difficult. If keeping your options open matters to you, ask how much of your enamel is involved before you commit.
What happens if a piece of bonding chips?
Contact the practice if bonding chips or comes away. A dental school leaflet on composite build-ups notes that when composite comes away, the bond breaks at the join with the tooth, so the tooth underneath is very unlikely to be damaged, and that composite can be repaired. Direct bonding's 12-month aftercare cover includes repairs, excluding accidental trauma and infection.
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We look after patients from Deepcar, Stocksbridge and Oughtibridge, and from across north Sheffield, including Wadsley, Hillsborough and Fulwood. Many travel further, from Penistone, Barnsley and Rotherham. The practice is on the A6102 at 334 Manchester Road, and no referral is needed.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
0114 288 2121
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