Lifespan
How long does composite bonding last?
Composite bonding usually lasts 4 to 7 years before it needs a polish, a small repair or redoing, and longer with care. Studies of front-tooth composite report yearly failure rates of about 0 to 4%, and the main problem is chips on the biting edge.
What the research shows
- Front-tooth composite in general. Across 17 clinical studies with at least three years of follow-up, yearly failure rates ran from 0 to about 4%. Fracture was the main cause.
- Composite veneers. Trials followed for two to eight years found about 88% still in place. The usual complaints were roughness, colour mismatch and stain at the edges, mostly fixed with a polish or a small repair.
- Porcelain for comparison. About 95% of porcelain veneers were still in place at ten years in a large review.
A "failure" in these studies usually means a chip, a piece coming away or a redo. A dull surface or a stain line is a polish, not a failure.
What shortens it
- Biting on it. Front edges take the load every time you bite into something hard.
- Grinding and clenching at night. A night guard costs €150 to €350 and is the best protection.
- Stain. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking. Composite isn't glazed like porcelain.
- Habits. Nails, pens, opening packets with your teeth.
What makes it last
- Whiten before the bonding, not after, so the shade is right from day one.
- Have the bite checked on the day. Composite that takes the first contact when you close will chip.
- A scale and polish every six months (€85 to €100, or €15 with PRSI dental benefit).
- Fix a small chip early. Adding to existing composite is quick; a lost edge is a rebuild.
Questions to ask before you book
- Edge bonding or a full composite veneer on each tooth, and why?
- What will it look like at five years, and what will you do then?
- Is there a written guarantee, and what are its conditions?
- What does a repair cost, as opposed to a redo?
Read next: Aftercare · Bonding vs porcelain veneers · Composite bonding cost · Does bonding damage teeth?
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Questions
Lifespan questions
How many years does composite bonding last?
Usually 4 to 7 years before it needs a polish, a small repair or redoing, and longer with care. Edges that take a lot of biting force wear faster than the face of the tooth.
What makes composite bonding fail?
Chips and fractures, mostly on the biting edge, and stain at the surface or the margins. Grinding, biting nails or pens, and lots of tea, coffee, red wine or smoking shorten its life.
Can composite bonding be repaired?
Yes. A dentist adds composite to the existing bonding, or polishes off stain, usually in one visit. A small repair costs about the same as edge bonding a tooth, €150 to €300.
Does it need replacing completely?
Eventually, on some teeth. A redo is priced like new bonding, €180 to €325 a tooth in Dublin. Many people only ever have one or two teeth redone.
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Tell us what you'd like done. One dental practice in your part of Dublin rings you with a price. Free, and nothing is booked unless you say yes.