Worn, uneven edges rebuilt
Composite bonding to rebuild the worn edges of the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Treatments / Cosmetic / Composite bonding
Composite bonding
Tooth-coloured composite used to repair or reshape selected teeth after assessment.
Practice of the Year (North) 2024 — Private Dentistry AwardsCould this treatment help you?
Composite bonding rebuilds the visible surface of a tooth in tooth-coloured material, shaped directly onto the tooth and set with light. It is used for chipped edges, small gaps and worn or uneven front teeth, and in most cases little or no healthy enamel is removed first.
The material is matched to the colour of your teeth as they are on the day. It changes shape, not shade — if you are considering whitening, that is discussed first, so the bonding is matched to the finished colour.
This may suit you if
A front tooth is chipped or worn, the edges are uneven, or there is a small gap you would like closed, and you would rather not have the tooth cut back for a crown or veneer. Suitability is confirmed at the assessment.
What it will not do
Composite is not as hard as enamel. It can pick up stain over time and it can chip, particularly where the front teeth take the force of the bite — a chip can usually be repaired by adding new material rather than starting again.
Bonding rebuilds surfaces; it does not move teeth or whiten them. Where the gap or wear is too large for composite alone, the alternatives are explained at the same visit.
- Little or no drilling of healthy enamel in most cases
- Often completed in a single visit, depending on the number of teeth
- Chips can usually be repaired rather than replaced
- Step 1AssessmentThe teeth, bite and gums are examined and photographed, and you hear what bonding can and cannot do for the teeth you are concerned about.
- Step 2Plan and shadeThe composite shade is matched to your teeth and the complete cost is confirmed in writing before you agree to anything.
- Step 3The bonding visitThe tooth surface is prepared, the composite is shaped in thin layers, set with light, then trimmed and polished until it disappears into the tooth.
- Step 4Bite check and reviewThe bite is checked against the new surfaces and adjusted, and you leave knowing how to look after the result and what to do if an edge ever chips.
Afterwards
There is no recovery period — the teeth can be used normally the same day. Composite holds its polish best when tea, coffee and smoking staining is kept down, and a polish at hygiene visits keeps the surface matched to the enamel around it.
Avoid using the bonded teeth as tools — opening packets, biting nails or pens. If an edge chips or feels rough, it can usually be repaired in one short visit.
Our own patients, unretouched.
Same angle, same lighting, no retouching. Every case is published with the patient's written consent.
Crowded, uneven front teeth reshaped
Composite bonding to reshape the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Worn front teeth rebuilt
Composite bonding to rebuild worn upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Uneven front teeth evened
Composite bonding to even the shape and length of the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Gap between the front teeth closed
Composite bonding to close the gap between the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Chipped edges repaired
Composite bonding to repair chipped and uneven edges on the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Old bonding replaced
Existing composite bonding removed and replaced across the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Edges lengthened and evened
Composite bonding to lengthen and even the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Small gaps closed
Composite bonding to close small spaces between the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Uneven, discoloured front teeth reshaped
Composite bonding to reshape and brighten the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Worn edges evened
Composite bonding to even the biting edges of the upper front teeth.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Worn, discoloured front teeth rebuilt
Composite bonding across the upper front teeth to rebuild worn edges and even the colour.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Gaps closed with composite bonding
Composite bonding to the upper front teeth, closing the spaces between them.
- Treatment
- Composite bonding
Questions patients usually ask.
How much does composite bonding cost?
It depends on how many teeth are treated and how much of each tooth is rebuilt, so the price is set at the assessment. You receive the complete cost in writing before anything is booked.
Will my teeth be drilled?
In most cases no — the composite bonds to the prepared surface of the tooth, with little or no healthy enamel removed. If your tooth needs anything more than that, it is explained at the assessment before you decide.
My bonding keeps chipping or breaking — why?
Bonding on front teeth fails early when the bite loads the edge of the tooth every time you close. Repairing the chip is usually straightforward, but if it keeps happening the bite itself needs assessing — sometimes the answer is adjusting how the teeth meet, or aligning them first, rather than adding more composite.
Can bonding close the gap between my front teeth?
Small gaps often can be closed by adding composite to the teeth either side. Wider spacing can leave the teeth looking too broad if it is closed with composite alone — in that case moving the teeth first, with Invisalign or another aligner, is discussed at the assessment.
Should I whiten my teeth before bonding?
If whitening is on your mind, do it first. Composite is matched to the shade of your teeth on the day and it does not lighten with whitening treatment afterwards, so bonding placed before whitening can end up darker than the teeth around it.
Our friendly team are here to help you
Ask a question about this treatment and reception will reply during opening hours.
Talk to us about Composite bonding
Related options
Combination whiteningA whitening plan combining an in-practice appointment with dentist-supervised home use.ICON resin infiltrationA minimally invasive resin-infiltration option considered for selected enamel marks or early lesions.Porcelain veneersThin porcelain restorations considered for selected visible tooth surfaces.
