3 Ways To Extend The Lifespan Of Your Resin Dental Bonds
Dental bonds are resin prosthodontics that allow your dentist to alter and improve the look of the front of your tooth. The resin material molds directly onto the tooth, then is hardened with a light, for an application process that requires little time and effort. Bonds are easier and cheaper than porcelain veneers but the resin material is weaker and more prone to certain types of damage.
There are some lifestyle changes and considerations that can help you extend the lifespan of your resin dental bonds by minimizing the risk of damage.
Wear Mouthguard for Grinding
Teeth grinding puts a lot of bite force pressure on your teeth and that pressure can crack or otherwise damage the resin of your bond. Talk to your dentist about treatment options that might include wearing mouthguards for grinding in your sleep. Physical therapy can also help you relax and potentially stop grinding your teeth.
If you grind during the day, you can either wear your mouthguard around the clock or you can accept the risk of damage to your resin bond. Or you can instead opt to have a metal-backed porcelain crown installed, which will offer a new look to the tooth but with more durability than the resin bond.
Avoid Staining Food and Drink
Resin isn't a stain resistant material so you need to avoid any food or drink that might stain the bond. The bond can become stained by the same materials that stain your natural teeth but the bond can't whiten with a regular teeth whitening procedure. Stained bonds will need to be removed and replaced.
If you have a long history of dental staining, you might want to consider a veneer or crown instead. Porcelain is more stain resistant than a dental bond, though porcelain is still not stain free so you still want to use caution with staining foods and brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking.
Avoid Chewing Hard Foods
Try not to chomp down on a hard food directly with the tooth bearing the resin bond. Hard foods include apples, corn on the cob, and hard candy. You can still eat these foods; you simply need to avoid doing the biting with the bonded tooth. Biting down on a hard food can cause the resin to chip, crack, or come loose from your tooth.
If the bond is on a rear tooth, you don't have to worry quite as much since the hard food is already ground down a bit before reaching those teeth. For more information, visit sites like http://www.getaperfectsmile.com.