Tooth Bonding Longevity for Upper Teeth

Last Wednesday I was eating lunch at my desk and bit into a crusty sourdough roll. Right away I heard that sickening little crunch on my top teeth. Reached up with my tongue: sure enough, a corner of the composite resin on my upper tooth had chipped away.

I totally panicked for a minute thinking the real tooth snapped in half. Walked straight into the bathroom, pulled out my phone, and turned on the flashlight to get a closer look in the mirror. It looked terrifying up close, but looking carefully at the fracture line, it was just the old bonding filling from six years ago that had popped off. The natural tooth underneath looked completely untouched.

I had my upper front teeth bonded six years back to fix small chips and gaps. Upper teeth bonding typically lasts 5 to 8 years. Upper teeth have broader enamel surfaces for resin to adhere to, and they stay drier than bottom teeth, helping the dental glue form a deep, durable bond that stands up to daily chewing.

I called my dental clinic and went in on Thursday afternoon expecting a painful, expensive procedure, but it was an absolute non-event:

• No shots, no needles. He didn’t even pick up a syringe because the repair was strictly on the outer enamel.
• He used a tiny sanding disc to smooth down the rough jagged edges so fresh resin could stick.
• Put a drop of blue acid gel on it for about 15 seconds, rinsed it, put on bonding glue, and layered on new composite.
• Cured it with the blue wand, checked my bite twice with carbon paper, and polished it up.

The whole appointment took barely 15 minutes and cost about normal co-pay. I walked out of the clinic with a completely smooth tooth and ate dinner normally that same evening with zero discomfort.

Visit our page on composite bonding London to explore treatment options, costs, and expert advice.

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