Dental bonding, sometimes called composite bonding or teeth bonding, is a cosmetic dentistry treatment used to enhance your smile. During the procedure, your dentist applies tooth-colored resin material to the affected teeth to change their shape, size or color.

Composite bonding usually isn’t painful because your dentist won’t be working anywhere close to the pain-sensing nerve inside your tooth. In most cases, anesthesia isn’t even necessary during composite bonding. Some people may experience temporary sensitivity after their dental bonding procedure. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease this discomfort.

How long bonding materials last depends on several factors, such as your oral habits and how many teeth were treated. Typically, however, bonding material lasts between three and 10 years before needing to be touched up or replaced.

Porcelain veneers are custom-made ceramic shells that adhere to the front surfaces of your teeth. To place them, your dentist typically must remove some enamel from your natural teeth. Once placed, porcelain veneers are not reversible. They’ll need replacing every 10 to 20 years.Dental bonding, on the other hand, may not require significant enamel removal. As a result, bonding is completely reversible. You’ll likely need touchups every three to 10 years.You might hear dentists use the term “composite veneers." This is when your dentist uses composite resin material to cover the entire surface of your tooth.

Composite bonding requires zero downtime. You’ll be able to resume all normal activities as soon as you leave your dentist’s office.