Dental Bonding for Chips, Gaps and Edges
A small chip or gap can bother you every time you smile. Dental bonding in Seattle at SMILES ON 35th fixes it in one visit, with little or no drilling. Dr. Rubecca Shahid sculpts tooth-colored composite by hand, so the repair blends right in.
A simple fix for a small flaw
You don't need veneers to repair a chip or close a small gap.
Maybe you chipped a front tooth years ago, or there's a small gap or uneven edge you've never liked. It's not big enough to justify veneers, but it's the first thing you notice in photos.
Dental bonding is a quick, conservative way to fix it. We apply tooth-colored composite resin to the tooth, shape it by hand and polish it to match. Most of the time, little or no drilling is needed, so your natural tooth stays almost untouched. You leave the same day with the flaw gone. It's a small change that can make a big difference to how you feel about your smile.
See what your first visit includes
Why bonding is worth considering
Bonding is one of the simplest, most conservative ways to improve your smile. Here's what it offers compared with bigger treatments.
Most bonding is finished in a single appointment, with no lab and no second visit. You can fix a chip on your lunch break and smile freely that afternoon.
Composite bonds to the surface of the tooth, so healthy enamel usually stays in place, often without numbing. Your natural tooth stays almost untouched.
The shade is chosen to match your tooth, and the composite is layered to mimic natural enamel. Even up close, it blends in.
If bonding chips or stains over time, it can be repaired or refreshed without starting over. It's an easy smile to maintain.
Because bonding takes a single visit and no lab, it's one of the most budget-friendly ways to improve how your smile looks.
How we bond your tooth
Dental bonding uses composite resin, a tooth-colored material, to reshape and repair teeth. The craft is in the details.
Color matching
We pick shades that match your tooth in natural light, sometimes layering more than one for a lifelike, seamless finish.
Sculpted by hand
The composite is shaped freehand to rebuild the edge or close the gap naturally, blending it into your smile.
Cosmetic artistry
The same skill used to craft composite veneers goes into every bonding repair, for a natural, lifelike result.
Polished smooth
A careful final polish gives bonding the natural shine of enamel and helps it resist stains for years, so it looks fresh and natural.
Who dental bonding is for
Bonding suits people with a chipped tooth, a small gap, an uneven or worn edge, or a tooth that's slightly shorter than its neighbors. Edge bonding can refresh several front teeth at once.
It's a quick, conservative and affordable way to fix the small things that bother you, with a natural result you can see before you leave.
Book your bonding consultation
From consultation to finished smile
Consultation
We check the tooth and your bite, and talk about the look you want and how long you want it to last, so we're aligned from the start.
Color matching
We choose the composite shades that blend best with your tooth in natural light.
Sculpt and bond
We lightly prepare the surface, often without numbing, then layer and shape the composite by hand, one thin layer at a time.
Polish
A final polish and bite check leave the repair smooth, natural and comfortable.
A gentle dentist who champions your lifelong health
Dr. Rubecca Shahid owns SMILES ON 35th in Wedgwood and leads your care herself, gently and with time to listen. Her own health struggles, then her mother's diagnosis, left her asking what the point of all our hard work is without the health to enjoy it. Longevity dentistry is her answer: care that protects your mouth and your health, so you can enjoy the life you're building.
Her care is conservative: she saves natural tooth wherever she can, chooses the least invasive option that will last, and recommends only treatment that truly helps you. When a tooth needs more, she shows you why. She is empathetic and thorough, with clear choices and no pressure.
She champions your long-term health and has trained to deliver on it. A Kois Center graduate, one of about 1,200 dentists worldwide, she completes nearly eight times the continuing education Washington requires every year. Her training spans prevention, function and sleep, restoration and smile design, so one dentist who knows you can plan each stage, close to home.
- Advanced training in diagnosis, treatment planning and bite stabilization from the Kois Center
- Biomimetic Dentistry Practitioner with mastership from the Alleman Center
- Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
I came to longevity dentistry through my own health journey, wanting to understand why problems start and how to prevent them. What I needed then is what I want for you now: more good years, a smile you feel good about, and a dentist who listens.
The skill behind great bonding
Bonding looks simple, but a natural result depends on training and an artist's eye. These are the specifics behind ours.
Trained in cosmetic composite
Dr. Shahid is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, trained to layer and shape composite so it looks like natural enamel.
Done in one visit
Most bonding is finished in a single appointment, with no lab and no second visit.
A conservative approach
Bonding keeps your natural tooth almost untouched, with little or no drilling and no pressure to do more.
Repairs that last
We check your bite so bonded edges aren't overloaded, which helps them resist chipping.
Hear it from our patients
Before you book, it helps to hear from people who have been in the chair. Read what patients say about their visits and treatment at SMILES ON 35th.
Read more reviewson Google (opens in a new tab)Excellent care without ever feeling rushed, which is rare! I felt truly well cared for and I'm so glad I found this office. I also love that the dentist does inlays in-house, so everything can be done in a single visit. And I'm a big fan of biomimetic dentistry.
Dental bonding questions
Dental bonding is a tooth-colored composite resin applied to a tooth and shaped by hand to repair chips, close small gaps or even out edges. It's usually done in one visit.
No. Bonding usually needs little or no drilling, so healthy enamel stays in place. It's one of the most conservative ways to change a tooth's shape.
Yes. Bonding is often the simplest fix for a chipped tooth, rebuilding the missing edge so it matches the rest of the tooth.
Bonding can last several years with good care. It can stain or chip over time, but it's easy to touch up without replacing the whole repair.
Edge bonding suits people with chipped, worn or uneven front edges who want a quick, natural-looking refresh. We'll check your bite and enamel at your consultation to confirm.
Usually not. Because bonding needs little or no drilling, most people are comfortable without numbing.
Reviewed by Dr. Rubecca Shahid Updated
Other ways to perfect your smile
Want a bigger change, have white spots to fade, or prefer a brighter shade overall? These pages explain your other options in detail.
