Can you fix my chipped front tooth in one visit?

Often, yes. A small chip on a front tooth can usually be repaired with bonding in a single visit at our Manchester dental office, and Dr. Mann will look at the tooth first to make sure bonding is the right fit for how it broke.

Will people be able to tell which tooth was bonded?

That's the goal we work toward. Dr. Mann matches the shade of your natural teeth and shapes and polishes the bonding by hand, so the repaired tooth blends in with the rest of your smile and looks like it has always been yours.

I'm nervous about dental work. Is bonding a good place to start?

It can be a lovely first step. "There's no shame," Dr. Mann tells patients. "We've got to have a starting point. Let's take this in baby steps." Bonding is gentle, and we'll go at your pace, with numbing and nitrous oxide available.

Can bonding close a small gap between my teeth?

Often, yes. Dr. Mann can add tooth-colored material to the sides of the teeth next to a small gap to close it, and at your consultation in Manchester he'll tell you honestly whether bonding, veneers or SureSmile clear aligners would give you the best result.

Can I whiten my teeth after I get bonding?

You can, but the bonding won't change color along with your teeth, so if you're thinking about whitening, it's usually best to whiten first. Dr. Mann can then match your bonding to your brighter shade, so everything looks even.

Dental Bonding in Manchester, NH

Smiling freely again after one gentle visit

Fixing the small thing you notice every day

It might be a chipped edge, a dark spot along the gum line, or a chalky patch on a front tooth — something small enough that nobody else seems to mention it, but you notice it every time you catch your reflection or smile for a photo. Dr. Mann sees how much those little things weigh on people, and how much lighter they feel once they're gone: "I cannot tell you how many people that I've changed the way they feel about themselves," he says, simply by repairing a few front teeth or taking away some stain.

Matching the shade and shape of your tooth

Bonding is, in Dr. Mann's words, "a very easy procedure that's very noninvasive," and he takes his time to make it feel that way: once you're comfortably numb, he gently removes any old filling or stain, then builds up a tooth-colored material in thin layers, matching the shade of your natural teeth. He shapes each layer by hand, hardens it with a special light and polishes it smooth, so the repaired tooth blends into your smile and feels like your own when you run your tongue across it.

Changing how you feel about your smile

Bonding is a small visit, but it can stay with someone for years, and Dr. Mann was reminded of that when a patient he had treated long ago came back to see him. They had once been terrified of the dentist, and he had done some bonding on their front teeth — and years later they told him, "you did this work for me years ago. It changed my life," and that they'd never go anywhere else. Moments like that are exactly why he loves this part of dentistry.

What is dental bonding?

Dental bonding is a way of repairing and reshaping teeth with a tooth-colored material that Dr. Mann sculpts directly onto the tooth, then hardens and polishes. It's often used to fix chips, cover stains or chalky spots, repair worn or broken fillings on front teeth, and close small gaps, and because little or none of your natural tooth needs to be removed, it's one of the gentlest cosmetic options we offer.

How much does dental bonding cost in Manchester, NH?

The cost depends on how many teeth you'd like bonded and how much each one needs, so Dr. Mann gives you a clear plan and cost before anything starts. We offer financing through Cherry and CareCredit, the Mann Plan, our in-office membership plan, can help with the cost of fillings like bonding, and although we're out of network, our Manchester dental office, a short drive from Bedford, files your claims so reimbursement comes to you.

Does dental bonding hurt?

Most people find bonding very comfortable, because Dr. Mann numbs the area first whenever a tooth needs any preparation, and the rest of the visit is gentle shaping and polishing. If dental visits make you anxious, let us know when you book, and we can talk about nitrous oxide to help you relax, so you can settle in and let us take care of your smile.

How long does dental bonding last?

With good care at home and regular checkups, bonding can serve you well for many years — Dr. Mann still sees patients whose bonding he placed long ago. Like natural teeth, bonding can pick up stain from coffee or tea and may chip if you bite on something very hard, so at each visit we check it and polish or touch it up when needed, because as Dr. Mann tells patients, "we're here to the end."

Is dental bonding or a porcelain veneer right for me?

It depends on how much you'd like to change: bonding is a wonderful choice for a chip, a stain or a small gap on one or two teeth, while porcelain veneers are better when you'd like to change the color and shape of several teeth at once and want a longer-lasting result. Dr. Mann will show you the pros and cons of each at your visit, and help you choose the option that fits your smile and your budget.

Knowing when a same-day crown serves you better

Bonding is a wonderful fix for small changes, and Dr. Mann will tell you honestly when a tooth needs more support than bonding can give — a large break, a big cavity, or a back tooth that works hard when you chew — and a same-day crown milled in our office would serve you better. "I treatment plan what's necessary," he says, which means every tooth gets exactly the support it needs to keep you smiling and chewing comfortably for years to come.