Cosmetic Bonding

One visit. Most single-tooth bonding cases take 30 to 60 minutes. Multi-tooth bonding (closing a gap across several teeth, for example) can take 60 to 90 minutes. You walk out with the final result the same day — no waiting on a lab.

Typically $250 to $600 per tooth at our office. A simple chip repair lands toward the low end; a complete redesign of a single tooth's shape lands higher. Cosmetic dentistry is rarely covered by dental insurance, but CareCredit financing and the Virginia Dental Club's 20% discount both apply.

5 to 10 years, depending on which tooth (front teeth take less force) and how you treat it. Biting nails, opening packaging with your teeth, and grinding at night all shorten bonding's life. A custom night guard adds years if you grind.

Yes — composite resin stains more easily than natural enamel. Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco will discolor bonded areas over time. We'll show you how to minimize staining, and bonded areas can be polished and refreshed when needed.

Bonding is cheaper, faster, more conservative (no enamel removal), and more reversible — but doesn't last as long (5-10 years vs 15-20 for veneers). For small chips, single-tooth fixes, and gap closures, bonding is usually the smarter call. For full smile transformations or cases where you want results that don't age, porcelain veneers win.

No. Bonding usually doesn't require anesthesia because we're not removing tooth structure. Most patients describe the visit as no more uncomfortable than a routine cleaning.