Dental bonding in Sacramento, sculpted by hand.
Tooth-colored resin that repairs chips, closes small gaps and reshapes edges, usually in a single visit with little or no drilling.
What is dental bonding, and when is it the right call?
Dental bonding is tooth-colored composite resin sculpted directly onto your tooth and hardened with a curing light, usually in a single visit. We use it to repair chips, close small gaps, rebuild worn edges, even out uneven lengths and fill dark triangles near the gumline.
Choose bonding when the problem is local: one chip, one gap, one short tooth. It adds to the tooth instead of taking away, so it's often the most conservative way to make a visible change. When several teeth need a new shape and color, composite veneers or porcelain veneers usually give a more even result.
Why bonding is an art, not a filling.
Layered, not blobbed. Natural teeth are opaque at the core and translucent at the edge. Good bonding copies that with several shades and opacities of resin, so light passes through the edge the way it does through enamel. A single-shade bond looks flat and chalky in photos.
Polish is half the result. Hand-finished texture and a high polish help bonding reflect light like the teeth next to it, and resist stain longer. We re-polish at your cleanings to keep it that way.
The bite decides where bonding survives. Before we bond an edge, we check how your teeth meet. Bonding on an edge that takes heavy force, or on a grinder without a night guard, is likely to chip. Sometimes the right answer is to adjust the bite or protect it first.
Whiten first, always. Resin keeps the color it's matched to. If you're thinking about whitening, do it before bonding, not after.
Bonding vs. veneers.
| Bonding | Composite veneer | Porcelain veneer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Part of a tooth | Full front surface, resin | Full front surface, lab ceramic |
| Visits | Usually one | Usually one to two | Multiple, with a temporary "test drive" |
| Enamel removed | Usually little to none | Minimal to none | Minimal (about 0.3–0.5 mm), no-prep possible in selected cases |
| Stain resistance | Good; needs polishing | Good; needs polishing | Best |
| Repair | Easy, chairside | Easy, chairside | Small chips smoothed; larger fractures remade |
Veneer pricing is published on our veneers page. Bonding is $750 per tooth.
Related: Chipped teeth · Gaps in teeth · Teeth whitening · When veneers aren't right · Cosmetic dentistry in Sacramento · Veneer cost guide
Real cases: Bonding #8–9 to close an edge gap · Black triangle closure with bonding · Composite fangs · Composite veneers for decay and white spots · When old bonding is replaced with zirconia crowns
Visit Lush Dental Studio in Natomas
Lush Dental Studio is at 2860 Del Paso Rd #300, Sacramento, CA 95834, in Natomas. We're open Mon–Fri 8am–5pm and Saturday 8am–2pm. Four doctors, led by founder Dr. Moid Khan, DDS, FICOI, FAGD, practice here alongside our in-house dental lab.
We're in-network with most PPO plans and verify your benefits before treatment (we don't participate in HMO or Medi-Cal / Denti-Cal plans). Book online or call (916) 619-7172.
Your questions, answered.
How much does dental bonding cost?
Does bonding hurt? Do I need to be numbed?
How long does bonding last?
Is bonding reversible?
Can bonded teeth be whitened?
Bonding, composite veneers or porcelain: how do I choose?
Fix the chip. Keep the tooth.
Free cosmetic consultation ($150 value) includes X-rays and a bite check.
Book My Free Consult Or call (916) 619-7172 · Saturdays 8am–2pm.