Composite bonding with receding gums: is it possible?

You can often have composite bonding with receding gums, but only once your gums are healthy and stable. At Toothi in Edgware we look at each case at a free bonding consultation, and gum health comes first, usually with a hygiene visit (£70, or £125 with Airflow) before any bonding is placed. Bonding can also help soften small black triangles between teeth.

Often, yes, as long as the recession isn’t getting worse and the gums aren’t inflamed. Bonding placed on teeth with unhealthy or changing gums is more likely to stain at the margin, irritate the gum or need redoing sooner.

When gums recede, more of the tooth shows, including the root surface near the gum line. Composite can cover some of this, reshape teeth that look long, or close gaps that open up as the gum shrinks back. Whether it’s the right option depends on why your gums have receded and by how much.

We shape bonding to finish neatly against the gum. If the gum is inflamed or still moving, that edge can be in the wrong place within months, leaving a visible line or a ledge that traps plaque.

• ✓  Gum disease. Bleeding or swollen gums get treated first, with hygiene visits and better cleaning at home.
• ✓  Brushing too hard. Scrubbing wears gums back. A gentler technique helps.
• ✓  Grinding. Heavy biting forces can affect gums and break bonding. A nightguard (£195) may be advised.
• ✓  Tooth position. Teeth that sit forward can have thinner gum over them; straightening may sometimes be advised first.

Where recession is significant or progressing, you may be referred on for a gum assessment before any cosmetic treatment is considered.

Bonding can often reduce small black triangles, the dark gaps that appear near the gum between front teeth. Composite is added to the sides of the teeth so they meet lower down, closing or shrinking the space.

It has limits. Closing a big triangle with composite alone can make teeth look square or wide, and you still need to be able to clean between them with floss or interdental brushes. If the teeth are also crowded or spaced, lining them up first can shrink the triangles before bonding. See our guide to black triangles between teeth, composite bonding on overlapping teeth and Invisalign in Edgware.

We plan in stages and only move on to cosmetic work once the basics are right.

The cost depends on how many teeth are involved and whether you need hygiene treatment first. Every bonding price includes the consultation, shade match, treatment and a review appointment.

Prices are fixed and taken from our fees page. More detail in composite bonding cost.

Look after bonding near the gum line as you would your own teeth, and take extra care cleaning where the composite meets the gum.

• ✓  Gentle brushing. A soft or electric brush, angled towards the gum without scrubbing.
• ✓  Clean between teeth. Floss or interdental brushes daily, especially where triangles have been closed.
• ✓  Regular hygiene visits. Professional cleaning and polishing help protect both gums and bonding.
• ✓  Protect against grinding. Wear a nightguard if one has been advised.

Read how long composite bonding lasts and our composite bonding aftercare guide for more on upkeep.