Treatment
From £400 per tooth
Repair chips, edges, and small gaps in a single visit using tooth-coloured composite resin.
Overview
Composite bonding uses a tooth-coloured resin, applied directly and shaped by hand, to repair damage or alter the shape of a tooth.
For a single minor addition, very little — and you should not need a specialist for one.
Where it matters is multi-tooth cosmetic bonding and worn dentitions, both of which are far more involved than they appear. Building up several teeth changes how they meet, and doing that without a plan for the bite is the commonest reason bonding chips within months. An assessment establishes whether the bite will support the change, whether grinding needs managing first, and what the design should be before any material is placed.
Process
Examination of teeth and gums, a discussion of what you want changed, and shade selection in natural light. For multi-tooth work, photographs and a wax-up so the shape is agreed first.
Usually cleaning and conditioning the surface rather than drilling. Minimal reshaping is occasionally needed for a natural transition, and anaesthetic is rarely necessary.
Composite is placed in layers, each set with a light, building depth and translucency so the result reads as tooth rather than as a patch. This is where the time goes.
Shape refined, bite checked, surface polished through progressive grades. Polish quality substantially determines both how natural it looks and how well it resists staining.
Suitability
Price
FAQs
In most cases nothing is removed, so no. Occasionally a small amount of reshaping is needed for a natural transition, which is minimal and confined to enamel. This is the main reason bonding is often preferred to veneers as a first step.
Largely, yes. Composite can be removed and the tooth returns to close to its original form, assuming no preparation was done. This is its principal advantage over veneers and why it suits people who are not yet certain.
Expect a few years before individual surfaces need attention, with polishing in between. Some bonding lasts considerably longer; edges under a heavy bite last less. It is designed to be maintained rather than replaced wholesale.
Over time, yes — particularly at the margins and particularly with tea, coffee, red wine and smoking. Most surface staining polishes off at routine visits and forms part of normal maintenance.
No. Composite does not respond to whitening gel. Whiten first, allow the shade to settle, then match the composite to it.
Usually not, and anaesthetic is often unnecessary since no drilling is involved. Where a cavity is being restored rather than a shape built up, local anaesthetic may be used.
Single-tooth repairs, generally yes. Multi-tooth cosmetic work usually includes a planning appointment first so the design is agreed before any material is placed, which noticeably improves the result.
Not if the shade is matched properly and the layering reproduces the translucency of natural enamel. Bonding that looks obvious is usually a single flat shade, over-bulked, or under-polished.
Callback
Share what you are hoping to improve and the practice will help identify a sensible next step.
Request a CallbackClinically reviewed by Dr Ahmed Jebril on 27 July 2026.
