Dental bonding
Tooth-colored resin shaped by hand. Good for a small chip or gap. It stains and wears sooner than porcelain and cannot be whitened afterward.
Cosmetic dentistry
Dental Bonding in Tamarac, FL
Tooth-colored resin that fixes small flaws, often in one visit.
Bonding repairs a chip, closes a small gap or reshapes a tooth without a lab or a long wait. The doctor checks the tooth first and tells you whether bonding, a veneer or something else fits best.
Often 1 visitshaped right in the chair, no lab
Resinmatched to the color of your tooth
- Chips, gaps, small shape fixesGood for
- Often one visitTime
- Tooth-colored resinMaterial
- English and SpanishLanguages
Quick answer
What is dental bonding?
Dental bonding is a repair made with tooth-colored resin. The dentist prepares the surface of the tooth, applies the resin, shapes it by hand, hardens it with a light and polishes it to blend with the teeth next to it. It is used for chips, small gaps, worn edges and stains that whitening will not lift. Many bonding repairs take a single visit, and the doctor tells you at the exam whether bonding suits your tooth.
Shade matchedto the teeth next to it
What it fixes
What bonding can fix
Bonding adds material to a tooth instead of removing much of it, so it is one of the more conservative cosmetic repairs. It works best on small to moderate problems, especially on front teeth, where a natural look matters most.
It has limits. Resin is not as strong or as stain-resistant as porcelain, and it is not the best choice for a large break. In that case the doctor may suggest a veneer or a crown instead.
Bonding is often used for
- Chipped or worn tooth edges
- Small gaps between front teeth
- Teeth that look short or slightly uneven
- Stains that whitening will not lift
- Touching up old bonding that has stained or chipped
Your visit
How a bonding visit works
Exam and shade
The doctor checks the tooth and your bite and picks a resin shade to match your teeth. If you plan to whiten, do it first, so the resin is matched to your final color.
Prepare the tooth
The surface is lightly roughened so the resin can grip. Little or no enamel is removed, and many small repairs need little or no numbing. The doctor tells you before you start.
Shape and harden
The resin is applied in layers, shaped by hand and hardened with a curing light.
Polish and bite check
We polish the surface, check how your teeth meet and adjust the edges until it feels natural.
Compare your options
Bonding, veneers or whitening?
The right choice depends on what bothers you about the tooth.
Porcelain veneers
Thin porcelain shells made to measure. They fix color, shape and size together and resist stains better, but they take more than one visit.
About veneersTeeth whitening
If the shape is fine and only the color bothers you, whitening may be enough. Whiten first, then match any bonding to the new shade.
About whiteningCost and insurance
What bonding costs and how to pay
The cost depends on how many teeth are involved and how much resin the repair needs. The doctor examines the tooth first, and you get the cost in writing before any work starts.
We accept most major PPO plans and check your benefits before treatment. Bonding done only to change how a tooth looks is usually not covered by insurance. When it repairs a broken or decayed tooth, some plans cover part of it, so it is worth asking us to check.
After bonding
Making bonding last
Limit stain
Resin picks up stain from coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco over time. Rinse after dark drinks and keep your cleanings, when we polish the surface.
Don't bite hard things
Skip ice, pen caps and fingernails, and don't open packages with your teeth. Bonding can chip, just like natural enamel.
Protect it at night
If you clench or grind, tell the doctor. A night guard protects bonding and natural teeth.
Questions patients ask
Dental bonding questions
How long does dental bonding last?
It varies. Bonding commonly lasts several years, and how long depends on the tooth, how much force it takes and habits such as clenching, nail biting or chewing ice. It can be touched up or replaced when it wears or stains. No one can promise an exact number of years.
Does bonding hurt?
Most people feel little or nothing. Many small repairs are done without numbing because little or no tooth is removed. If the repair is close to the nerve, or you would rather be numb, tell the doctor and we will numb the area.
Can bonded teeth be whitened?
No. Resin does not respond to whitening gel the way enamel does, so a bonded tooth stays the same shade while the teeth next to it get lighter. If you want whiter teeth, whiten first and have the bonding matched to the new shade.
Is bonding or a veneer better for a chipped tooth?
For a small chip, bonding is usually quicker and costs less. A veneer is made in a lab from porcelain, resists stains better and suits a larger chip or a case where you also want to change color or shape. The doctor looks at the tooth and your bite and tells you which fits.
Does insurance cover dental bonding?
Bonding done to improve appearance is usually not covered. If it repairs a broken or decayed tooth, some plans pay part of it. We accept most major PPO plans and check your benefits before treatment. Monthly financing through CareCredit, Sunbit, Cherry or Alphaeon is also available, subject to approval.
Can bonding close a gap between my front teeth?
Often, yes, when the gap is small. Resin is added to the sides of the teeth to close it. A larger gap, or one caused by tooth position, may be better treated with braces, clear aligners or veneers, and the doctor will explain that at the exam.
Patient reviews
What patients say
Google reviews from patients of our Tamarac office.
- Emily Juliana Castillo Mavarez★★★★★
10/10 with the staff, the doctor and everyone in the office, everything was so clean and professional, will be coming back soon
- Tomas Rodriguez★★★★★
Excelente servicio de atención al paciente. Fui atendido por la asistente Tibisay, la cual me atendió con mucho profesionalismo y dedicación. Estaré agradecido por sus servicios
- Vanessa Rodriguez★★★★★
Muy buena la atención de la Dr. Blanca y su asistente Tibisay.
- Reinaldo May★★★★★
Me hice un implante y todo fue super espectacular, la atención de Tibisay y la Dra. Blanca me hicieron sentir tranquilo. Recomendado 100%
- Tom Rodriguez★★★★★
Excellent service, and the assistant Tibisay was lovely.
- Marianela Perez★★★★★
Excelente
- Diana Bermudez★★★★★
Muy buena experiencia , el personal es profesional y atento . Me sentí en confianza en todo momento. Recomendado al 100%
- Tibisay Hernandez★★★★★
La atención excelente de parte de todo el personal, en especial de la Dr. Martin muy profesional, ¡bastante recomendados!
- Lieny Arteaga★★★★★
Great experience at Metropolitan Smile Design!!!
- Gloria Molina★★★★★
Me tratan super bien aqui , me hice mi limpieza hoy con Alina, Ella es muy linda siempre conmigo .Todas las muchachas son muy amables aqui
Related care
Other ways to improve your smile
Appointments
Request your appointment
Tell us what you need and a team member will call you to confirm a time. New patients are always welcome.
- Send the form
It takes about a minute.
- We call you back
During office hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
- Come in for your visit
New patients can start with the $65 exam and digital X-rays, with a courtesy basic cleaning.
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- English and Spanish
- Most insurance accepted
Thank you. We got your request.
Our front desk will call you during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to book your visit.
Need us sooner? (954) 322-3865We only use your details to contact you about your visit.
Have a chip or gap that bothers you?
Metropolitan Smile Design in Tamarac sees patients from across Broward County. The doctor checks the tooth and tells you whether bonding fits. Our team speaks English and Spanish.