October 31, 2024 | Tri Le Bonding–adding composite resin to a tooth to restore its appearance–is one of the most common dental treatments performed every year in dentists’ offices, used to treat chips, gaps, small cracks, discolored teeth, and more. If you’re one of the many patients who has had bonding done or anticipates having it done in the future, you may be wondering how bonding affects your candidacy for braces. While having bonding done may be possible before or during your time with braces, it may be better to wait until you’re braces-free. You’ll need to talk it over with your dentist to find the answer in your specific case, but let’s address some common questions about how braces and bonding get along, in general… I Currently Wear Braces. Can I Have Bonding Work While Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment? The short answer is yes, you can have bonding work done before finishing your braces treatment. It could be possible if the location of the tooth in need of bonding isn’t affected by the braces, such as with top-arch-only or bottom-arch-only braces, or if you have a small tooth crack or chip that’s out of the way of the braces bracket. However, it’s typically not recommended to have bonding done until your braces come off. Your teeth will be moving during orthodontic treatment, and if you bond them before they’ve reached their final position, they may appear skewed. I’m Considering Wearing Braces. Can I Have Bonding Before I Start Orthodontic Treatment? Having bonding done before getting braces runs similar risks to getting bonding done during the braces-wearing process: if the bonded tooth moves dramatically it could negatively affect the alignment the braces are designed to create. If the tooth is not planned for a big move, it could be feasible to have bonding done first. Your dentist will be able to advise you which camp you fall into and whether bonding could be performed before starting braces. I’ve Had Bonding Work Done. Can I Still Wear Braces? Yes! The adhesive agent used for braces can attach safely to both natural and bonded teeth. In fact, the adhesive is so strong that it can pull bonding away when the braces are removed. The dentist can take special care to avoid this, but it’s often the case that the bonding must be redone after the braces come off, or the dentist may opt to just remove the bonding before starting braces and replace it after braces are done. If you’re thinking of having your newly aligned teeth whitened, this would be done after removing the braces but before redoing the bonding. This is so that the bonding can match the newly whitened teeth shade. Consult with a Dental Professional As you can see, there are a lot of ins and outs to getting braces. And though it’s a very common treatment, bonding makes the braces process more complicated. The best way to chart a path that makes the most sense and minimizes your time in the chair is to let your dentist guide you. With a dental exam and consultation, they can understand your goals, advise you on what can and should be done, and develop a schedule for your treatments that will optimize the outcome. Orthodontics and Bonding at Bunker Hill Dentistry We’re proud to offer both–in fact, all three!–of the treatments of dental bonding, braces, and Invisalign, the proprietary system of “invisible braces.” We invite you to come in and sit down with our team to learn how we can combine bonding and braces for the smile you’ve been dreaming of. Schedule a Consultation Tri LeA practicing dentist since 1987, Dr. Le has been running successful dental practices in Texas with his wife Ann since 1990. A member of the ADA, AACD and AADSM, Dr. Le has also contributed to several leading dental journals.
