What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a treatment where tooth-coloured composite resin is applied to a tooth, shaped, hardened with a light and polished. You may also hear it called composite bonding or tooth bonding.
The resin attaches to the surface of the tooth. Your dentist removes little or no natural tooth to place it. That makes bonding a conservative choice for small changes. It is not right for every tooth.
What Can Dental Bonding Fix?
Bonding can help with:
Bonding is the wrong fit for a large break, a severe bite problem, heavy grinding damage or a tooth that needs stronger protection.
- ✓Small chipped teeth
- ✓Minor cracks
- ✓Uneven tooth edges
- ✓Small gaps between teeth
- ✓Teeth that look short or narrow
- ✓Small discoloured areas
Who May Be a Good Candidate for Dental Bonding?
You may be a good candidate if your teeth and gums are healthy and the change you want is small. Bonding fits well if:
An exam comes first. Bonding under heavy bite pressure chips and wears faster. Your dentist checks how your teeth meet before recommending it.
- ✓The tooth does not need a crown or veneer
- ✓Your bite does not put heavy pressure on the area
- ✓There is no active decay or gum disease around the tooth
When Dental Bonding May Not Be Suitable
Bonding may not be the right option if you have:
Your dentist explains what else could work. A tooth that is broken or hurts starts with broken tooth repair. For swelling or severe pain, see our emergency dentistry page.
- ✓Large tooth fractures
- ✓Deep cracks
- ✓Active cavities
- ✓Gum disease around the tooth
- ✓Heavy grinding or clenching
- ✓Severe tooth wear
- ✓Large spaces between teeth
- ✓Major colour changes across many teeth
- ✓A bite that puts strong pressure on the bonded area
- ✓A tooth that needs a crown, veneer or root canal assessment
Dental Bonding for Chipped Teeth
Bonding is a standard fix for a small chip, above all on a front tooth.
Your dentist adds tooth-coloured resin to the chipped area, shapes it to match the tooth, hardens it with a light and polishes it.
A large, deep or painful chip needs an assessment first and often a different repair. Your dentist may suggest a crown or a veneer instead.
Can Dental Bonding Close Small Gaps?
Yes. Bonding closes a small gap by adding composite resin to one or both teeth beside the space. No teeth are moved.
Gap size sets the limit. A narrow space between the two front teeth suits bonding well. A large gap makes the teeth look too wide, so orthodontic treatment moves the teeth instead.
A gap that is new or getting bigger needs a check first. Bonding covers the space. It does not treat the cause.
Dental Bonding for Uneven or Worn Edges
Bonding can even out small uneven or chipped edges.
If grinding or clenching caused the wear, your dentist may recommend a night guard. It protects the bonding and your natural teeth at night.
Dental Bonding for Tooth Discolouration
Bonding covers a small discoloured spot with tooth-coloured resin. It is not the same as teeth whitening.
The NHS notes that whitening can only lighten natural teeth, so it will not change the colour of bonding later.
Planning both? Whiten first, then match the bonding shade.
If several teeth are discoloured or the whole smile is the concern, teeth whitening or veneers may suit you better.
What to Expect During Dental Bonding
Tooth and Smile Assessment
Your dentist looks at the tooth, your bite and your gums.
Shade Selection
A composite resin shade is chosen to blend with your natural tooth colour.
Tooth Preparation
The tooth surface is lightly roughened and treated so the resin can attach. Small cases need little or no tooth removal.
Resin Placement and Hardening
Resin is applied, shaped by hand and hardened with a curing light.
Hardening the Material
A curing light is used to harden the bonding material.
Shaping and Polishing
The bonded area is trimmed, smoothed and polished. It should look and feel natural.
Bite Check
Your dentist checks how your teeth meet and adjusts any high spots. This reduces pressure on the new bonding.
How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?
Most bonding gives three to ten years of service, then needs a touch-up or a redo. That range comes from Cleveland Clinic. Resin is not as strong as natural enamel. It also resists stains less well than porcelain and can chip over time.
Where your bonding falls in that range depends on:
- ✓Bite pressure
- ✓Grinding or clenching
- ✓Oral hygiene
- ✓Diet and staining habits
- ✓Whether the bonding sits on a biting edge
Your dentist can polish, repair or replace bonding that has worn or stained.
How to Care for Dental Bonding
To help protect bonded teeth:
Point out any rough edge or new stain at your next checkup.
- ✓Brush twice a day
- ✓Floss once a day
- ✓Do not bite nails or pens
- ✓Cut back on coffee, tea, red wine and other dark drinks
- ✓Wear a night guard if you grind or clench and your dentist recommends one
- ✓Call if bonding feels rough, loose, sharp or chipped
Dental Bonding vs Veneers
Composite bonding covers a small area of a tooth and is shaped in one sitting. It suits small chips, small gaps and minor shape changes.
Veneers cover the whole front surface. They suit bigger changes in colour or shape across several front teeth. Conventional porcelain veneers need some enamel removed, so they are not reversible.
Our veneers page covers that treatment in full.
Dental Bonding vs Dental Crowns
A dental crown covers the whole tooth. It is used when a tooth is cracked, weakened, heavily filled or missing a larger amount of structure. If the tooth needs strength and protection, bonding is not enough.
Cost and Coverage Information
Canadian price guides put dental bonding at about $230 to $500 per tooth. A small repair on one tooth sits near the low end. A larger area costs more.
These are general market ranges, not our fees. Your cost depends on the number of teeth, the size of the area and whether the bonding repairs damage or changes how a tooth looks. The estimate our team explains before treatment is the number that applies to you.
Insurance plans treat bonding that repairs a broken tooth differently from bonding done for appearance alone. Many plans do not cover cosmetic bonding. Bring your insurance or benefit details to your visit. Our team will help review the estimated cost before treatment begins.
We are a CDCP provider and bill the plan directly for eligible treatments. The plan's list of covered services includes fillings for broken teeth but no cosmetic treatments, so read our CDCP page and ask us to check before you book.
Related Services
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bonding close a gap between teeth?+
Yes, if the gap is small. Larger spaces need orthodontic treatment.
Can bonding fix small teeth?+
Yes, when the tooth is only slightly small. Your bite decides how much length it can safely carry.
Does bonding whiten teeth?+
No. Bonding does not whiten natural teeth, and whitening does not change the colour of bonding. Whiten first, then match the bonding to the new shade.
How long does dental bonding last?+
Expect three to ten years, then a touch-up or a redo.
How much does dental bonding cost in Ontario?+
Canadian price guides put it at about $230 to $500 per tooth. Those are general market ranges, not our fees. We explain the expected cost before treatment.
Is dental bonding painful?+
Small bonding repairs need little or no drilling, so freezing is often not needed. If the work is close to a sensitive part of the tooth, your dentist can freeze the area first. Some people feel brief sensitivity afterwards.
Is dental bonding covered by CDCP?+
CDCP does not cover bonding done for appearance alone. Bonding that repairs damage can qualify as a filling under the plan's rules, if you are eligible. Our CDCP page explains how the plan works at our clinic.
Where is Grimsby Lake Dental located?+
Grimsby Lake Dental is located at 414 Winston Rd, Grimsby, ON L3M 0H2, near Lake Ontario and the QEW. Parking is free on site.
Patients also come from Beamsville, Lincoln, Vineland and Winona. We are open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Book Dental Bonding in Grimsby
Have a chipped tooth, a small gap or a tooth that looks too small? Book a dental bonding consultation at Grimsby Lake Dental. We explain your options and the expected cost before any treatment begins.