Aftercare
Composite bonding aftercare
You can eat and drink as normal straight after composite bonding. The new edges can feel strange against your tongue for a day or two. After that, aftercare is about stain and chips: less tea, coffee and red wine, no biting nails or very hard food with the bonded teeth, a night guard if you grind, and a clean every six months.
The first 48 hours
- The new shape feels odd. Your tongue notices every change. That passes in a day or two.
- Gums may be a little tender where the dentist worked near them. Keep brushing gently.
- Your bite. If your teeth don't meet properly after a few days, ring the practice to have it adjusted. It's a quick fix and it stops chips.
Food, drink and habits
- Hard and crunchy food: eat it, but not with the bonded front teeth. Cut apples, don't bite them; go easy on hard sweets.
- Staining food and drink: tea, coffee, red wine, cola and curry stain composite over time. Rinse with water after.
- Smoking stains bonded teeth faster than natural ones.
- Habits: nails, pens, bottle tops and packets all land on the bonded edge.
Cleaning
Brush twice a day, ideally with an electric brush and a non-abrasive toothpaste, floss daily by sliding the floss rather than snapping it, and keep your six-monthly scale and polish: €85 to €100, or €15 if you qualify for PRSI dental benefit. The polish lifts surface stain and keeps the composite shiny.
Night guards
If you grind or clench at night, a custom night guard does more for your bonding than anything else: €150 to €350. Shop-bought guards are better than nothing but don't fit as well.
When to ring the dentist
- A chip, a rough edge or a piece coming away.
- Your bite feels wrong after a few days.
- Sensitivity that doesn't settle after a week or two.
Read next: How long bonding lasts · Composite bonding cost · Chipped tooth repair · Edge bonding
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Questions
Aftercare questions
Can you eat straight after composite bonding?
Yes. There's usually no injection, so nothing to wear off, and the composite is fully set with a light before you leave.
What can't you eat with composite bonding?
Nothing is banned. Go easy on very hard food and sweets with the bonded teeth, and cut down on tea, coffee, red wine and dark sauces, which stain composite over time.
How do you clean composite bonding?
Like your own teeth: brush twice a day, floss daily, and have a scale and polish every six months (€85 to €100, or €15 with PRSI dental benefit).
Do I need a night guard?
If you grind or clench at night, yes. It stops the edges chipping. A custom night guard costs €150 to €350.
Can I whiten bonded teeth?
Whitening gel won't change the composite, only your own enamel, so the bonding would look darker. Whiten before bonding instead.
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Tell us what you'd like done. One dental practice in Cork rings you with a price. Free, and nothing is booked unless you say yes.