Invisalign and composite bonding: the finishing touches

What composite bonding is

Bonding uses tooth-coloured composite resin, sculpted directly onto the tooth and set with a light, to rebuild a chipped corner, lengthen a worn edge, widen a narrow tooth or close a tiny gap. It is done in one visit, usually without drilling or anaesthetic, and the natural tooth underneath is preserved. The material is matched to your tooth shade, polished to a natural sheen, and blends in.

When it helps after Invisalign

• Worn or chipped edges. Crowded or crossed teeth often wear unevenly for years. Once they are straight, the uneven edges show, and bonding levels them.
• A small or peg-shaped tooth. An undersized lateral incisor leaves a gap that aligners can only partly close. Bonding builds it to a natural width.
• Tiny residual spaces. A fraction of a millimetre that is not worth more aligners can be closed with bonding.
• Surface marks. White spots or small discolourations on a front tooth can be masked.

Why straighten first

Bonding masks; Invisalign moves. Bonding over crooked teeth to make them look straight means building up some teeth and cutting back others, which removes enamel and produces bulky, flat-looking results. Straightening first means bonding is only used where it adds, in thin layers, and the teeth keep their natural shape. It also protects the result: a bonded edge on a tooth that bites correctly lasts far longer than one taking the wrong load.

The order of things

Invisalign first, then professional whitening, then composite bonding, and finally your Vivera retainers. Whitening comes before bonding because composite does not whiten; the shade is matched once your teeth are at their final colour. Bonding is a separate treatment at Omnia Dental Spa, quoted separately and planned with Louise, and your retainers are made once it is finished so they fit over the finished teeth. The thickness of the bonding is designed into the plan.

What it is not

Bonding is not a veneer. Veneers are thin porcelain shells made in a laboratory and bonded over a prepared tooth; they are stronger and more stain-resistant, but they need some enamel removed and cost more. For small edge repairs and reshaping, bonding is usually the better and more conservative choice. Where a tooth is badly broken, discoloured through or heavily filled, Louise will say honestly if a veneer or crown would serve you better.

Looking after bonding

Composite lasts five to eight years on average, sometimes much longer, and can be repaired or re-polished rather than replaced. It can chip on very hard foods and can stain slightly with heavy tea, coffee or smoking. Brush normally, keep your hygienist visits, and wear your retainer; it protects the bonding too.

Questions people ask

Is bonding included in the Invisalign price?

No. It is a separate treatment at Omnia Dental Spa, quoted individually once Louise has seen your finished result.

Does bonding damage my teeth?

No. It is added to the surface and needs little or no enamel removed, which is why it is the conservative choice.

Can I whiten bonded teeth?

The natural tooth whitens; the composite does not. Whitening is done first, then the bonding is matched.

How long does bonding last?

Typically five to eight years, longer with care, and it can be repaired rather than replaced.

Bonding or Invisalign for a gap?

Moving the teeth gives a natural result with no added material. Bonding suits a very small gap or an undersized tooth. Often the answer is both: aligners to position, bonding to finish.