Cosmetic Bonding: Scottsdale Patients’ Alternative to Veneers

Love the idea of veneers but not the cost? You should consider a cosmetic bonding procedure.

You have gaps, crooked teeth, intrinsic staining (staining from the inside out), or chipped teeth. However, you can’t afford veneers or just aren’t comfortable with the idea of going through the veneer procedure.

Your Scottsdale dentist can help you get a gorgeous smile with cosmetic bonding – a procedure that’s a fraction of the cost of veneers.

Cosmetic Bonding Preserves the Integrity of Your Teeth

The highest priority of Dr. Bradley J. Willcox, DMD, FAGD is to keep your dentition healthy and in good working order. Cosmetic bonding allows him to do just that while giving you the smile of your dreams at an affordable price.

The main reason for this is you don’t need to remove as much tooth structure (or any at all) as you would with veneers. Instead, the composite resin is bonded directly to the surface of your teeth using a primer and adhesive.

What is Cosmetic Bonding?

Cosmetic bonding uses composite filling material, the tooth-colored ceramic resin and plastic compound that most dentists use for most of their fillings.

The composite resin comes in numerous shades, which can be mixed to achieve a color that matches that of your tooth perfectly. The result: you can’t even tell you’ve had any dental work done!

What to Expect at Your Appointment

During your appointment, you can expect the following:

• No numbing will be necessary unless you need an existing filling removed and replaced or if there’s decay that needs to be excavated
• Using a dental handpiece, your Scottsdale dentist will gently rough-up the enamel of your tooth so that the primer, adhesive, and composite material adhere to the tooth successfully
• An etchant – an acidic material used to expose a more porous, rough layer of the tooth – is placed on the tooth and rinsed off after a few seconds
• The primer and adhesive are then placed on the tooth and light-cured with an ultraviolet light
• The composite resin is placed on the tooth and molded to fill gaps or make your teeth look straighter
• Once your dentist has achieved the desirable shade and shape, they’ll cure the composite with a curing light
• Your dentist will check your bite and reduce any high areas if necessary
• Further shaping and finessing will be done with a dental handpiece
• Polishing discs, cups, and brushes are used to provide a high sheen

Does Insurance Cover Cosmetic Bonding?

Most insurance companies will cover cosmetic bonding procedures up to a percentage. Often, they’ll cover it at the same rate as a dental filling.

Talk to your Scottsdale dental team at AccuCare Dental Centers, PC to find out whether your insurance company has any restrictions on this type of procedure. You can also discuss various payment options with them that can help make your co-pay more affordable.

Looking for beauty and affordability? Contact us today at 480-998-8073 to learn more about cosmetic bonding.