What Teeth Are Not Suitable for Composite Bonding?
Composite bonding isn’t suitable for teeth with active decay, gum disease, large cracks or breaks, heavy grinding, deep internal staining or significant crowding. In many cases, treating the underlying issue first, or choosing a different treatment, can still get you to a smile you’re happy with.
Bonding is popular because it’s a quick, minimally invasive way to improve how your teeth look. But because the material sits on the surface of the tooth, the tooth underneath needs to be healthy, stable and roughly in the right position for it to work well. Here’s what we look for at your assessment.
What makes a tooth unsuitable for composite bonding
Severe decay
Bonding isn’t recommended for a severely decayed tooth. The composite needs to be applied to clean, healthy tooth structure, so it won’t stick properly to decayed or infected tissue, or if there’s not enough enamel remaining. Treating the issue first and removing the decayed parts increases the chances of the tooth becoming suitable for dental bonding.
Large damage
Severely damaged teeth are not suitable for composite bonding because the procedure is meant for minor chips, cracks, or stains. If the damage affects most of the tooth structure or has reached the nerve, it may need root canal treatment, followed by a dental crown.
Crooked or crowded teeth
Composite bonding on crooked teeth improves mild crookedness, but it won’t improve severe crowding or misalignment. At Enhance Smiles, our orthodontic strength lies in a combined approach to straighten your smile, starting with Invisalign aligners to shift the position of the teeth. Next, we’ll do tooth whitening to brighten your teeth and remove surface stains. Finally, we’ll do edge bonding by applying composite resin to the biting edge and tip of the tooth so it looks straight and even next to your other teeth.
Teeth grinding
Grinding or clenching your teeth (known as bruxism) puts constant pressure on the edges of your teeth, and bonding material takes that pressure too. Over time, this can make bonding chip, crack, or wear down sooner than it otherwise would, a bit like running a nail file along the same edge every night.
If you grind your teeth, composite bonding can still be an option in some cases. We’ll assess how much wear there is and whether a custom night guard could help protect the bonding while you sleep. If grinding has already caused significant wear, we may recommend addressing that first. You can also see how long composite bonding typically lasts and what helps it last longer.
Active gum disease
We don’t recommend dental bonding if you have an active gum problem. Bleeding and moisture from infected gums can contaminate the bonding area, increasing the risk of failure. Also, the gumline can change as it heals, leaving visible edges beyond the composite resin.
First, we need to treat your gums to manage infection and let the tissue heal completely, so we can reassess your condition for a composite bonding treatment.
Severe discolouration
Bonding works well for covering minor stains on your teeth. But it’s not suitable for severe discolouration or those that start from the inside of the tooth, called intrinsic stains. This is because these types of dark stains might still be visible through the bonding material, which we’ll need to apply thinly to keep the tooth looking natural after the treatment.
Alternatives to composite bonding
Teeth whitening
Professional tooth whitening is the first step for general yellowing issues. It works better than dental bonding for teeth with large areas of discolouration. Since bonding is shade-matched to your teeth and doesn’t whiten afterward, it’s logical to get your teeth whitened first before having composite bonding.
Make sure to get your teeth whitened by a dentist so you can go through the treatment safely and legally.
Orthodontic treatments
We recommend an orthodontic treatment instead of composite bonding if your teeth are extremely crowded or crooked. Options such as fixed metal braces or Invisalign aligners will gradually shift the position of the teeth and make your smile look straighter and more even.
Dental crowns
For major structural issues such as large cracks or decay, dental crowns are a better fit than bonding. A crown covers the entire tooth to restore its healthy appearance and allow it to function normally again. It can be a stand-alone treatment or used with dental implants if the tooth cannot be saved and needs to be extracted.
Dental veneers
Composite veneers are a better treatment option than dental bonding if your teeth have significant cosmetic issues, including severe discolouration on almost the entire front surface, and larger cracks. Also, we recommend veneers if you want your restored teeth to be more resistant to future staining.
Your next steps towards a confident smile
Bonding is popular because it’s a quick, minimally invasive way to improve your smile. But it isn’t right for everyone, and not every tooth is suitable for it right now.
Being unsuitable for composite bonding right now doesn’t disqualify you permanently from getting the treatment. At your assessment, we’ll look at what’s holding you back and, where possible, what can be done first to make bonding an option. If another treatment would suit your teeth better, we’ll talk you through that instead, so you can decide what feels right for you.
Book a consultation at our Rochester or East Grinstead clinic, which is handy for Crawley too.
FAQs
Can all teeth have composite bonding?
No, the treatment isn’t suitable for some teeth, such as:
- Severely decayed or damaged teeth
- Teeth with severe discolouration
- Back teeth or molars
- Teeth with existing restorations, such as dental crowns
Can you get composite bonding on crooked teeth?
It’s ideal for changing the appearance of slightly crooked teeth, which will look straighter after changing their shape. But it won’t work for significantly crooked or crowded teeth, which will respond better to orthodontic treatments.
Can you get composite bonding if you have tooth decay?
No, we need to resolve the issue first before you can have dental bonding. Placing the bonding material over the decayed part effectively seals the bacteria inside the tooth, allowing the infection and damage to spread. Also, the composite will not stick strongly to decayed tooth tissue, increasing the treatment’s risk of failure.
Does composite bonding cover stained teeth?
Yes, it can cover stained parts of a tooth. But if the discolouration covers most of the tooth or if it’s too dark, dental veneers will work better for aesthetic improvement.
Can you get composite bonding on the NHS?
Typically, you can’t get composite bonding on the NHS, especially if it’s purely for cosmetic improvement. But there are rare cases when the NHS covers the treatment, such as when it’s considered clinically required to treat a damaged tooth.