Dental Bonding in Harlan, IA

Your appointment begins with Dr. Burkhalter examining the tooth and confirming that bonding is the right approach. If you are planning to whiten your teeth, it is usually best to do that before bonding because composite resin is color-matched to your current tooth shade and will not respond to whitening later. Using a shade guide, Dr. Burkhalter selects a resin color that closely matches your surrounding teeth.

The tooth surface is lightly roughened and a conditioning liquid is applied. This etching process creates a slightly textured surface that helps the composite resin bond securely to the enamel. No healthy tooth structure is removed. In most cases, no anesthesia is needed unless there is an existing cavity being treated at the same time.

The composite resin is applied directly to the tooth in a soft, putty-like state. Dr. Burkhalter shapes it by hand to match the natural contours of the tooth and improve the cosmetic concern. A curing light then hardens the resin in place. If small adjustments are needed, they can usually be made immediately after curing.

Once the resin is hardened, Dr. Burkhalter trims any excess, checks your bite, and polishes the composite to match the natural sheen of your surrounding teeth. Most patients are surprised at how natural the result looks. The entire appointment typically takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth. You can eat and go about your day normally right after you leave.