Binding or Splinting

The Oyster Bay Family Dentists provide a wide array of prosthodontics for teeth compromised by injury or periodontal disease. But sometimes, it is not necessary for weak teeth to be extracted. Binding teeth together is an ancient practice which modern medicine has made much more satisfactory and comfortable.

If a patient’s teeth are weak due to periodontal disease, our doctors will want to remove decayed tissue, to start with. The teeth will also be cleaned. Binding, also known as splinting, is usually done on the front teeth with a fibrous strand that is attached to their backside. The fiber is porous so that it may absorb adhesive resin, and only produce a small ridge along the patient’s teeth. Our doctors will etch the teeth with an acidic gel (which is typical whenever something is attached to the teeth), and temporarily fill the gaps between them to protect the gum tissue.

Binding molars is more complicated and may involve cutting into them in order to place a metal splint along the top. But both types of splints work by distributing the force of the patient’s bite evenly among the bound teeth. This can compensate for an individual tooth’s weakness without doing the kinds of intrusive surgeries necessary for implants or permanent dentures.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit OysterBayDentists.com and fill out a contact sheet.