Dental Practice, Kennington
Composite Bonding in Kennington
The quickest and least invasive way to fix a chipped, uneven or slightly gappy front tooth — usually one appointment, usually no drilling, and reversible if you change your mind. From £350.
- From £350 per tooth
- Usually one appointment
- Little or no natural tooth removed
What is composite bonding?
Composite bonding is tooth-coloured resin applied directly to a tooth and shaped by hand, then hardened with a light — repairing chips, closing small gaps or reshaping a tooth in a single appointment.
It's the same material used for white fillings, applied for appearance rather than to fill a cavity. Because it's built up onto the surface of the tooth, very little — often none — of your natural enamel has to be removed.
That's what makes it the sensible first option for a lot of people. It's affordable, it's done in one go, and because it's additive rather than subtractive, it doesn't close the door on anything else later.
Bonding is added to the tooth rather than cut out of it — which is why it's usually one appointment, and why it doesn't close the door on anything else later.
What bonding can fix
- A chipped front tooth — the most common reason people ask for it.
- Small gaps between front teeth, closed or narrowed without orthodontics.
- Uneven or worn edges, evened up so the smile line looks level.
- Teeth that are slightly too small or oddly shaped for the ones beside them.
- Worn edges from grinding, rebuilt to their original length.
- Small areas of discolouration that whitening hasn't lifted.
If your teeth are significantly crooked, moving them with Invisalign first is better dentistry than disguising the position with composite — and it usually means less bonding is needed afterwards, or none.
Bonding or veneers?
The honest comparison, because bonding is often the better-value answer and is frequently the one patients aren't offered.
| Composite bonding | Porcelain veneers | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per tooth | from £350 | £950 |
| Appointments | Usually one | Two |
| Natural tooth removed | Little or none | A thin layer, permanently |
| Reversible | Usually yes | No |
| Stain resistance | Picks up stain over the years | Highly stain resistant |
| Typical lifespan | Several years, then refreshed or replaced | Longer — many years with good care |
| Repairable | Yes, easily added to or patched | Usually replaced rather than repaired |
A reasonable way to approach it: start with bonding. It costs a third as much, it's done in a day, and it shows you what a change of shape looks like on your own face before anything permanent happens. If you love it and want something longer-lasting later, veneers remain an option.
Step by step
What happens at the appointment
Planning the shape
We look at what's bothering you and agree what to change — length, width, edge shape, or closing a gap. Whitening, if you want it, happens first: composite doesn't lighten afterwards, so it's matched to your final shade.
Preparing the surface
The tooth is cleaned and the surface lightly conditioned so the composite bonds to it. In most cases no drilling and no anaesthetic are needed at all.
Building it up
Composite is applied in layers and shaped by hand, then set hard with a curing light. This is careful, artistic work — the difference between bonding that looks like a tooth and bonding that looks like a repair is entirely in the shaping.
Polishing
The composite is smoothed and polished until it catches the light like enamel, and the bite is checked so nothing catches when you close.
Keeping it looking good
Avoid biting nails or opening packaging with your front teeth. Cut down on the things that stain — coffee, tea, red wine, smoking. A polish at your hygiene visit keeps the surface bright.
Fees
How much is composite bonding in Kennington?
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Composite bonding, per tooth | from £350 |
| Composite (white) filling | from £160 |
| Veneer (E-MAX), per tooth | £950 |
| ZOOM whitening home kit | £395 |
| Night guard | £280 |
Bonding is priced per tooth, so the total depends on how many you're having done. Many people have just one or two.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does composite bonding cost in London?
At Pure Elegant Smile, composite bonding starts at £350 per tooth. It's priced per tooth, so the total depends on how many you have treated — and plenty of people only need one.
How long does composite bonding last?
Several years typically, before it's polished up, added to or replaced. It doesn't last as long as porcelain, but it's a fraction of the price and is easy to repair rather than needing to be redone entirely.
Does composite bonding damage your teeth?
No — that's its main advantage. In most cases little or no enamel is removed, so the treatment is usually reversible and keeps all your other options open.
Does it hurt?
Usually there's no drilling and no injection needed at all, so most people have it done without any anaesthetic and feel nothing.
Will composite bonding stain?
It can, over the years — composite is slightly more porous than porcelain, so coffee, tea, red wine and smoking will dull it eventually. A polish at your hygiene appointment lifts surface staining and keeps it looking fresh.
Should I whiten before bonding?
Yes, always. Composite doesn't lighten once it's set, so it's matched to the shade of your teeth at the time it's placed. Whiten first and the match holds; whiten afterwards and the bonding will look darker than the teeth around it.
Can bonding close a gap between my front teeth?
Often, yes — small and moderate gaps are closed by adding composite to the adjacent edges. Larger gaps are usually better closed by moving the teeth with Invisalign, because widening teeth too much to fill a big space starts to look unnatural.
What if it chips?
It's straightforward to repair. Unlike porcelain, composite can usually be patched or added to in a single short appointment rather than replaced entirely.
Book a bonding consultation
Show us the tooth that bothers you and we'll tell you what bonding could do for it, what it would cost, and whether something else would suit you better.
Or call us on 0203 950 6620
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am–7pm · Closed Wed, Sat, Sun97 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 4HQ
Reviewed by Dr Nader Gavgani, GDC 75484