When it comes to dental treatments, bonding and fillings are both ways to repair and restore teeth, but they are used for different purposes and have different methods of application.

Bonding

Bonding is a procedure used to fix minor cosmetic issues with your teeth, like small chips, cracks, or gaps between teeth. During the bonding process, your dentist applies a tooth-colored resin (a type of material that looks like your natural tooth) to the affected area. The resin is shaped to match the natural contours of your tooth, and then it’s hardened using a special light. Bonding is often used to improve the appearance of teeth rather than to treat cavities. It’s a quick, minimally invasive procedure that usually doesn’t require much preparation.

Fillings

On the other hand, fillings are used to treat cavities caused by tooth decay. When a cavity forms, it means there’s a small hole in the tooth caused by bacteria breaking down the enamel. The dentist will clean out the decayed part of the tooth and then fill it with a material, such as composite resin (tooth-colored), silver amalgam, or gold. The purpose of a filling is to restore the tooth’s structure and prevent the decay from spreading further. Fillings are necessary when there’s actual tooth damage from decay, whereas bonding is more for cosmetic improvement.

Here’s why you might choose one treatment over the other:

  • Use Bonding When: You have minor cosmetic issues, such as a small chip in your tooth, a gap between your teeth, or a crack that doesn’t affect the tooth’s strength. Bonding is a great option when you want to fix small imperfections without needing to remove much tooth structure. It’s also typically less expensive and quicker than other options.
  • Use Fillings When: You have a cavity or a more significant hole in the tooth due to decay. Fillings are necessary to restore the tooth’s function and prevent further damage. They are typically used when the tooth has been compromised by decay and needs to be strengthened again.

The main difference between bonding and fillings is that bonding is often used for cosmetic reasons to fix minor flaws in your teeth, while fillings are used to restore teeth that have been damaged by cavities. Bonding usually requires less preparation and can be completed in a single visit, making it a simpler procedure. Fillings, on the other hand, address deeper issues.