Is composite bonding worth it?

For small chips, gaps, worn edges and uneven teeth, composite bonding is usually worth it. It’s normally done in one visit with little or no drilling, and it can be repaired. At Toothi in Edgware, edge bonding is £195 per tooth. The trade-off is upkeep. Composite can stain and chip, and it typically needs polishing or touching up over the years.

The main plus is that bonding adds to your teeth rather than taking anything away. For the right problem you get a natural result quickly, and you can still choose something else later.

• ✓  Minimal or no drilling. In most cases the composite bonds to existing enamel.
• ✓  Usually one visit. No lab, no temporary teeth.
• ✓  Repairable. A chip can usually be fixed chairside without redoing the whole tooth.
• ✓  Reversible in most cases. Because little or no tooth is removed, it can often be polished off later.
• ✓  A lower outlay than porcelain. At Toothi, edge bonding is £195 per tooth and a composite veneer is £295, compared with £895 for a porcelain veneer.

Composite isn’t as hard or as colour-stable as porcelain. It needs looking after, and you should expect some maintenance.

• ✓  It can stain. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking can dull or darken it over time.
• ✓  It can chip. Especially with nail biting, grinding or biting hard objects.
• ✓  It doesn’t whiten. If you want whiter teeth, whiten before bonding.
• ✓  Not for every problem. Crooked teeth, large gaps or a bad bite are usually better treated with Invisalign first.
• ✓  Upkeep. Polishing at hygiene visits and occasional repairs are part of owning bonding.

Your Teeth

Real patient results

Composite bonding results from our patients

Chips, gaps and worn edges rebuilt in tooth-coloured composite at Toothi in Edgware.

Photos of our own patients, shared with their consent. Individual results vary.

See more bonding before and afters →

Does composite bonding damage teeth?

Done well, composite bonding generally doesn’t damage teeth. In most cases the enamel is gently roughened with a mild gel so the composite can stick. Healthy tooth isn’t drilled away.

When problems happen, it’s usually down to poor planning rather than the material. Think bulky bonding that traps plaque at the gum line, bonding placed over decay or gum disease that should have been treated first, or bonding used to hide crooked teeth that then look too wide. That’s why we always check your teeth, gums and bite first. Bonding isn’t a substitute for treating active decay or gum disease. See composite bonding gone wrong for the warning signs.

No. It’s long-lasting but not permanent, and can last several years with good care. It can be polished, repaired or replaced when needed.

How long yours lasts is mostly down to your habits. Grinding, nail biting and lots of dark drinks shorten its life. Regular hygiene visits help it last, as does a nightguard (£195) if you grind. Read more in how long composite bonding lasts.

Our prices are fixed and published. Every bonding price includes the consultation, shade match, treatment and a review appointment.

Prices are fixed and taken from our fees page. See also our composite bonding cost guide.

Bonding is a good fit if your teeth are healthy and broadly straight, and you want to fix the shape or edges. It’s less suited if your main concern is alignment, or if you grind heavily.

Find out more on our composite bonding page, in composite bonding vs veneers and on our Invisalign page.

Weighing it up? Our composite bonding pros and cons guide covers what bonding does well, its limits, and when veneers or Invisalign may suit you better.