Can I Have Bonding Done on my Teeth Without Grinding Any of Them Down?

From your description it sounds to me like the reason that your teeth are chipped is because you are grinding your teeth.  If this is in fact the case, dental bonding would not be a wise choice for you.  You would fracture the bonding after a short period of time.  You should see a dentist that is used to treating cases cosmetically in grinders.  Your dentist needs to figure out why you are grinding first, then he can figure out the best long term solution for your chipped teeth.  Most likely, porcelain veneers would be the better option.  If you have veneers placed you would need to be placed in a night guard after wards to protect the porcelain if you continue to grind.  See a dentist that specializes in Neuromuscular Dentistry and have him/her do a thorough evaluation of your bite to determine why you are grinding and what the solution should be. Good luck.

There is a good reason why your teeth look the way they do. You and your dentist should explore why they got that way before you decide on what to do about it.  Bonding can indeed be done without much, if any, change in tooth shape, but if all you do is bond beautiful composite, which is plastic, to a place that used to be enamel, the hardest part of our bodies, you will see that bonding fail.

Find out why, fix that first, then the treatment choices become much clearer and way more predictable.

Dental bonding is a fantastic non invasive procedure to help enhance your smile.  Depending on your starting point, your dentist should be able to tell you whether you are a candidate for prep less or minimally prepped bonded restorations.  By simply adding back to your existing teeth, you are able to be very conservative while attaining your desired outcome.  

It may not be the ideal way to fix your problem because not only are your teeth jagged but your would like to match the length.  It is an affordable less invasive way to fix them without filing them down. The bonding may not last as long as a veneer or a crown, but it would be a start for you and then you can decide if you want something more permanent down the line.

Many times teeth can be bonded without grinding on the teeth. The best way to know for sure is to have the dentist take a model of your teeth. On that plaster model, the proposed look of the teeth can be made in wax and actually tried in your mouth. That way you can see firsthand what everything would look like prior to having any dental  treatment done. In this way, everyone is informed and there are no surprises at the end of treatment. The bite can also be evaluated to ensure that the new bonding does not interfere with your current bite, or a decision can be made to change it for the better. 

You have quite a few questions in your one question:) let me answer it one by one

1. Yes, it is possible to add to the tooth structure to improve aesthetic tooth appearance without drilling the tooth.

2. And yes it is possible that none of your teeth will be touched by the drill.

3. This question is the most important, if it can affect your bite. There is a high risk/probability that your natural bite or occlusion will be affected by lengthening multiple teeth. But then again, maybe not. My suggestion is to obtain a consultation with a dental restorative specialist ( Prosthodontist)  and you will have an answer to all your questions.

Good luck! 

The best and first choice of treatment for overcrowded teeth is orthodontics.  With orthodontics, teeth can be moved into correct alignment without reducing tooth structure.  Bonding can be added to teeth without removing tooth structure only if there is room for it.   For example, bonding material can be added to edges of short front teeth with jagged edges to make them look longer with straight, smooth edges as long as it does not interfere with your bite.   The alternative to bonding front teeth is to place porcelain veneers on them with minimal reduction.  However, more reduction may be needed depending on how crowded the teeth are.  With veneers, we can change the shade, shape, and size of teeth to achieve your desired look.  An examination will, of course, be needed to determine the best type of treatment for your case.  Thank you, Dr. Jahanian.

Bonding is one of the best procedures modern dentistry has to offer.  Once upon a time, we bonded everything but now there are specific reasons why you would bond versus veneer(which is bonding on porcelain veneers) and vice versa.  Each dentist has their own reasons but a few are as follows:

-Bonding is great for closing spaces

-Bonding is great for reshaping moderately crooked teeth.

-Bonding can be used to replace old stained large fillings.

Bonding CAN NOT change the color of your teeth.  Always whiten and get the color you want before you begin. 

It is hard to lengthen teeth with bonding.  Eventually the challenge in lengthening teeth is that they can get in the way of your bite and chip.

Some dentists like to bond and some do not.  It is my experience that bonding can last for years if you have a skilled doctor.  Ask for pictures and discuss your options with your dentist.  You can always do veneers after bonding.

Prep-less bonding can be accomplished, but only in very limited situations.  Teeth are often reduced in thickness when veneered with composite or porcelain.  This is to prevent the teeth from looking or feeling bulky.  Doing this when the edges are angled, chipped or jagged is simple.  Misaligned teeth are a different story.  Depending on the degree of tooth rotation, often a tooth can have material added to one half and require the other half be reduced so as not to make the lip appear or feel bulked out.  Composite veneers are not nearly as costly as porcelain.  Ask your dentist about a "Snap On Smile".  This method will allow you to experiment with what can be done to improve your smile without altering your natural teeth.  Our office tailors the use of prep-less, minimal prep and full prep veneers to fulfill the patient's aesthetic needs.

It sounds like your teeth are rough and a little too short, and that you'd like to have them longer without grinding. Yes, it might be possible, especially if you are doing more teeth (say six or eight), because the forces in your bite that contribute to shortening your teeth or chipping the edges can be improved.

Depending on whether you want a minor cosmetic change or a major smile makeover, some veneers (like No-Prep) can be placed without tooth grinding. If you want a stronger result, this may be necessary.

Make sure to discuss with your cosmetic dentist WHY your teeth have shortened, and that there is a plan to keep you from wearing them down again no matter which cosmetic treatment you choose.