3 Reasons to Replace Composite Bonding With a Dental Crown
by Lillian Dixon
When you break or chip a tooth, the fastest and cheapest way to repair it is with composite bonding. A dentist can apply composite bonding to a tooth within an hour. Moreover, in the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist, the repaired tooth will show no signs of damage or of dental treatment. In other words, your smile and your bite remain intact.
However, composite bonding generally doesn't last very long in the average mouth. As such, think about replacing it with a dental crown as soon as you can.
1. Composite Bonding Suffers Intrinsic Staining
Have you ever seen a saucer, the little plate used for resting cups of tea or coffee on, stained with tea, coffee or any other beverage? Most likely not, and this is because those saucers are made of ceramic, or porcelain. To create porcelain, ceramists heat up kaolin clay to temperatures of up to 1300°C in a kiln. They can then mold that clay into whatever form they wish.
Composite bonding, on the other hand, is made of medical-grade plastic. Dentists can create composite resin on the spot before applying it to a tooth. Because of the way it is made, composite bonding is very porous. As such, coffee drinkers, smokers and lovers of red wine will quickly notice that their bonding is no longer white.
In extreme cases, intrinsic staining could occur within a year. Dental crowns, however, will not suffer any intrinsic staining and will last for many years before you need to replace them.
2. Composite Bonding Breaks More Easily
Although composite bonding can look beautiful when applied to a damaged tooth, it is nowhere near as durable as porcelain. Because of this, you always need to take care when chewing on hard food items, such as nuts and boiled candies. Composite bonding is weaker than natural enamel.
Conversely, porcelain dental crowns are stronger than even enamel, meaning you can eat whatever you like.
3. Composite Bonding Wears Away Over Time
Composite bonding is ideal when used as a short-term fix; for instance, over a period of one to two years. However, because it is plastic and is weaker and more brittle than enamel, it will wear away over time. If you fail to replace the bonding in time, the natural tooth structure beneath the bonding could be exposed, and tooth decay could set in.
If you replace your composite bonding with a dental crown within one to two years, however, this shouldn't become an issue. Porcelain crowns are harder than teeth, and if it takes a lifetime for a natural tooth to suffer severe wear and tear, imagine how long it might take a porcelain crown to succumb to wear and tear!
Contact a dentist like Everyday Dental Care to learn more.
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About Me
As a mum, I know how essential sport can be to children's development. Through team sports like soccer, kids learn persistence, sportsmanship and the value of supporting their team members. However, all that learning carries some risk as well, and a stray elbow or a ball to the face can result in oral injuries. I have been the mum rushing to the emergency room with a precious permanent tooth sitting in a cup of milk. Admittedly, at the time, I wasn't even sure if the cup of milk was the right solution. As a parent, you will face those situations, and I'm here to make sure you know what to do when they pop up. With this blog, let's explore children's dentistry and sports injuries together... I want you to have the info you need to stay cool, calm and collected, regardless of how many teeth are on the pitch.