Implantology
Dental implantsAll-on-4 and All-on-6Implant systemsBone grafting and sinus liftAesthetic dentistry
Aesthetic dentistryCeramic veneersClear alignersComposite bondingTeeth whiteningProsthetics
CrownsBridgesDenturesGeneral and surgery
General dentistryHygiene and scalingRoot canal treatmentGum treatmentOral surgeryWisdom teethChildren's dentistryAesthetic medicine
Aesthetic medicineBotulinum toxinDermal fillersMesotherapyPRP plasmoliftingAesthetic dentistry
Beauty built with care.
Bonding reshapes the form and shade of a tooth using layers of composite bonded directly to enamel. Its main advantage is not the price. It is that in most cases nothing healthy has to be removed.
A chipped incisal corner, a thinned edge, a small gap between the front teeth, a worn enamel surface or a single dark spot all change how a smile reads without being a disease. They do not require crowns, and often they do not require veneers either.
The distinction matters. A veneer requires enamel removal, and from that point the tooth needs coverage permanently. Bonding is usually additive: it adds material rather than taking it away. If you decide years later to change it, the tooth underneath is still your own.
It handles chips, worn edges, minor irregularities in shape, closure of small gaps and masking of limited discolouration. It is completed in a single visit and can be refined later without remaking the whole tooth.
It does not align teeth, does not change the bite and does not solve deep intrinsic staining such as tetracycline banding. Where a large amount of tissue is missing on a chewing surface, or a tooth is heavily broken down, the reliable answer is a ceramic restoration or a crown rather than progressively more composite.
Ceramic veneers hold their colour better and resist wear better. A systematic review reports 96.8% survival at a mean of 10.4 years for lithium disilicate veneers, and in patients with bruxism the risk of failure is 7.7 times higher.
Composite behaves differently. For posterior composite restorations, annual failure rates are typically 1% to 3% in studies with follow-up beyond five years. At the front, the usual reason for renewal is rarely fracture but a change in shade and loss of surface polish after several years.
The practical conclusion: bonding is the sensible first move for modest cases and for patients who do not want an irreversible solution. A veneer is the better choice for larger changes in shape and where long-term colour stability matters most.
Beauty built with care.
The work is carried out by Dr Damian Karadjov, trained in aesthetic rehabilitation with ceramics under Dr Mauro Fradeani and Dr Leonardo Bacherini (2020) and in mucogingival aesthetic surgery under Prof. Giovanni Zucchelli (2021).
If shade is part of what bothers you, we whiten first and then match the bonding to the shade you have reached. Composite does not lighten once it is placed, so the reverse order leaves a visible difference.
Stages of treatment
Usually a single visit of 45 to 120 minutes depending on the number of teeth.
Consultation, photographs and an assessment of your bite. This is where we decide whether bonding is sufficient or the case calls for a different approach.
If you have chosen to whiten, that comes before bonding, because composite will not change shade afterwards.
Surface cleaning, adhesive preparation and layering of composite. In most cases without anaesthetic and without removing healthy enamel.
The form is contoured and polished to a gloss. This stage decides whether the result looks natural and how readily it picks up stain.
A short appointment a few weeks later to check the bite and the polish. Minor refinement at this point is routine rather than a sign of a problem.
What the evidence shows
96.8%
survival of lithium disilicate veneers at a mean 10.4 years
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 29 clinical studies (2025): 96.8% for lithium disilicate, 96.1% for feldspathic ceramic, 93.7% for leucite-reinforced glass ceramic, with no statistically significant difference between materials. In a retrospective study of 318 veneers, failure risk was 7.7 times higher in patients with bruxism.
Who this is for
Good to know
Composite picks up stain over time, particularly at the margins, and loses its original gloss. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco accelerate this. Periodic repolishing slows the change but does not prevent it.
The material is more brittle than enamel and ceramic. Chipping at an incisal edge is possible, especially if you open packaging with your teeth, bite nails or chew ice. In bruxism the risk is higher, and we discuss a night guard before doing the work rather than after a fracture.
Bonding is not a final restoration. Expect maintenance and renewal after several years, with the exact interval depending on your habits, hygiene and how much material was added. If that does not match your expectations, ceramic is the more suitable but irreversible route.
Alternatives
More stable in colour and more wear resistant, with 96.8% survival at a mean of 10.4 years for lithium disilicate. They require enamel removal and are irreversible.
When the issue is only shade and the shape of the teeth is already good.
When gaps or irregularity come from tooth position rather than tooth shape.
When the defect is small, stable and does not bother you. Not every irregularity needs treatment.
Meet the dentist
Doctor of Dental Medicine · Prosthetic and Aesthetic Dentistry
Prosthetic and aesthetic dentistry: digital smile design, veneers, crowns, implants, aligners, bonding. Consultations in English, French and Russian.
In most cases no. Bonding is usually additive: composite is placed onto existing enamel after adhesive preparation. Occasionally a minimal smoothing of an edge is needed to achieve a natural shape. That reversibility is the key difference from veneers, where enamel removal is necessary and permanent.
Expect several years, followed by polishing or partial renewal. For posterior composite restorations, annual failure rates are typically 1% to 3% in studies following patients beyond five years. At the front, the more common reason for renewal is a change in shade and loss of gloss rather than fracture.
Bonding is reversible, faster and cheaper, but less stable in colour. Lithium disilicate veneers show 96.8% survival at a mean of 10.4 years but require enamel removal. In patients with bruxism the risk of veneer failure is 7.7 times higher, which also enters the decision. We decide after examining you.
The price depends on the number of teeth and the extent of the work, so we do not publish a headline figure that later changes. You receive the exact amount in writing after examination, before anything begins. The online case review is a good way to orient yourself.
Composite takes up stain over time, particularly at the margins, and gradually loses its original gloss. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco speed that up. Good hygiene and periodic repolishing at your check-up slow the change. This is the trade-off you accept in exchange for reversibility.
Yes, in most cases bonding is completed in a single visit of 45 to 120 minutes depending on the number of teeth. No laboratory stage is involved, which makes it convenient when time is limited. If whitening is also planned, that happens first and adds a separate appointment to the schedule.
Most bonding is done without anaesthetic, because no healthy tissue is prepared. Where work is needed close to the gum or a sensitive area is involved, we use local anaesthetic. Sedation is available for anxious patients and needs to be discussed in advance so the appointment can be planned properly.
The two approaches do not cover the same range of cases. This article reports the evidence in both directions: where aligners win, and where they remain weaker than fixed appliances.
Read moreComposite bonding has no single expiry date. It lasts differently in different mouths and on different teeth. Here is what the studies report and which factors matter most.
Read moreA gap between the front teeth can be closed in one visit with composite, or closed by moving the teeth themselves. The two routes give a different result and a different lifespan.
Read moreBoth treatments are offered for the same complaints, yet they differ in reversibility, longevity and cost. This article compares them across six criteria instead of declaring one the winner.
Read moreThe phrase promises a look rather than a treatment. This article sets out what a full aesthetic rehabilitation involves, which parts of it cannot be undone, and how a result that still reads as yours is planned.
Read moreThe question is almost always asked before a first whitening and almost never after it. Answering it means separating real risk, transient discomfort and what the procedure simply cannot do.
Read moreRelated treatments
Discover the smile that suits you.
Book a consultation. We will tell you whether bonding is enough for your case and how it compares with veneers on result, longevity and price.
We reply within one working day.
