Options for your smile
Cosmetic Dentistry in Guelph
York Road Dental offers cosmetic dentistry in Guelph: bonding, smile makeovers, tooth gems, whitening and veneers. Open Saturdays.
Book a cosmetic consultation online or call (519) 824-7333.
What Is Tooth Bonding, and When Is It Used?
Tooth bonding, also called dental bonding or composite bonding, is a repair in which a tooth-coloured resin is shaped onto a tooth and hardened with a light. It changes the shape, length or colour of a tooth, usually in one visit and often without removing much of the tooth.
Bonding is used in these cases:
A chipped or worn edge
A small gap between teeth
A tooth that looks short or uneven
A stain that whitening does not lift
The dentist matches the shade to your teeth, shapes the resin, hardens it and polishes it. Front tooth bonding is a common request. Bonding can chip or stain over time, so we explain its limits when we plan it with you.
Bonding is a good first step when the change is small. It costs less tooth than a veneer, and it can often be repaired or redone later. When you want a bigger change in colour, shape or length across several teeth, veneers or a smile makeover may suit you better.
Cleveland Clinic describes what bonding is used for and its limits on its dental bonding page.
Can You Fix a Chipped Tooth?
Yes, a small chip can usually be repaired with bonding, and a chipped front tooth is one of the most common reasons people book. Chipped tooth repair aims to restore the shape of the tooth, and it usually takes one visit.
A tooth that is cracked, or a chip that hurts or leaves a sharp edge, needs a dentist soon. A larger break may need a crown instead. Call us if the tooth hurts or bleeds, and read about emergency dental care for same-day visits.
Severe swelling, trouble breathing or bleeding that will not stop are emergencies: call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Keep any piece of the tooth you find, and avoid biting on that tooth until we see it. After bonding, avoid biting hard objects, nails or ice with the repaired tooth, and keep your regular check-ups so we can check the repair.
Can Bonding Close a Gap Between Teeth?
Yes, bonding can close a small gap in the front teeth by adding resin to the sides of the teeth. Gap bonding is quick and reversible in many cases, because the resin can be changed later.
A larger gap, or one caused by crowding or a tooth that has moved, may need aligners or veneers. Read about clear aligners if you also want straighter teeth.
What Is a Smile Makeover?
A smile makeover is a plan that combines several treatments, such as bonding, whitening, veneers or aligners, to change the look of your smile as a whole. Aesthetic dentistry can work well when the steps are planned together.
A smile makeover can suit you in these cases:
Several chipped, worn or uneven teeth
Teeth you feel self-conscious about
A smile you want to change for an event
A mix of colour, shape and spacing concerns
We cannot promise a result, because every mouth is different, but we can show you the options and explain what each can and cannot do. Healthy gums and teeth come first: if you have decay or gum disease, we treat it before any cosmetic work starts, so your new smile sits on a healthy base.
What Are Diamond Twinkle Tooth Gems?
Diamond Twinkle tooth gems are small decorative gems bonded to the surface of a tooth to add sparkle. They are a cosmetic choice, and they do not treat a dental problem.
A gem is attached with dental bonding, so it is placed on the tooth instead of in it. Gems are small, so brush gently around them. Ask us how long a gem usually stays, how to care for it and how it is taken off, and we will explain it at the consultation.
Whitening, Veneers or Straighter Teeth?
Bonding changes the shape of a tooth, and three other treatments change colour, coverage and alignment:
Teeth whitening: in-office Zoom
Veneers: porcelain or composite
Invisalign and clear aligners: plus braces
Zoom whitening lightens stains in the clinic, and take-home kits are not offered. Veneers are thin shells that cover the front of a tooth, and York Road Dental makes both porcelain and composite veneers. Clear aligners and braces move your teeth.
A simple way to choose is by what bothers you most:
A stain or dull colour: whitening
A chip, gap or short tooth: bonding
Teeth with many changes at once: veneers
Crooked or crowded teeth: aligners or braces
Braces come in metal or clear ceramic, and aligners include Invisalign and ClearCorrect. Your dentist can combine these steps into one smile makeover.
What Happens at a Cosmetic Consultation?
A cosmetic consultation is a conversation about what you want, followed by an exam and a plan. Bring photos of smiles you like, and tell us what bothers you most.
We have before-and-after photos of treatments, shown only with patient consent. Cost depends on the treatment, the number of teeth and your plan, so we do not list one price here. Ask our team about your cost, or about in-house payment plans, and see fees and insurance.
You can use a stop signal at any time, and we use numbing gel and offer breaks when a treatment needs it.
To prepare, bring any photos you like, a list of your questions and your insurance details. If you have an event date, tell us when you book, so that we can plan the steps around it.
At the consultation you meet Dr. Natasha Kaushal, a general dentist who has been registered with the RCDSO since 8 June 2018 and earned her DMD at the University of Manitoba in 2018.
Questions About Cosmetic Dentistry
What is dental bonding?
Dental bonding is a tooth-coloured resin that York Road Dental shapes onto a tooth to repair a chip, close a small gap or change its shape. It is usually done in one visit.
Does bonding hurt?
York Road Dental often needs no freezing for bonding, because little or none of the tooth is removed, though the dentist can numb the area if needed. We use numbing gel and offer breaks, and we cannot promise a painless visit.
How long does bonding last?
Bonding can last for years, but York Road Dental cannot promise a set number of years, because the resin can chip or stain. Regular check-ups let us polish or repair it.
Book Your Cosmetic Consultation in Guelph
Ask for a cosmetic consultation at York Road Dental and your online booking goes straight into our calendar. If you want to start with colour, look at whitening.