We're now open on Saturdays 09:00-13:00 (pre-booked appointments only)
Call us: 0115 647 9990
Mapperley Dental Studio · 870 Woodborough Road · 0115 647 9990
Additive, and usually one visit
Repairing chips, closing gaps and reshaping edges by adding material to the tooth rather than removing it.
Tooth-coloured composite is applied directly to the tooth and shaped by hand in a single appointment. In most cases no healthy tooth is removed, which makes it the more conservative alternative to veneers.
Composite bonding£395 per tooth
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
Membership plans from £14.10 a month
Patient stories
5.0 on Google
★★★★★I went into mapperly dental to remove some composite bonding I had done previously with a different dentist which I wasn’t to happy with. I had a really amazing experience here, everyone was so lovely and welcoming. I had them taken off and whitened then re done with composite and I’m so so pleased with them. I feel so much more confident with my smile!! And even better they look so natural thank you so much 10/10 would recommend!!
★★★★★I came to this dentist after being recommended by my sister, and I’m so glad I did. From start to finish, the whole experience was professional, welcoming, and completely stress-free. After having several treatments — including the consultation, hygienist appointments, whitening, and composite bonding — I can honestly say I’m extremely grateful to the whole team at Mapperley Dental Studio. Their care, attention to detail, and friendly approach made every visit a positive experience. Thank you all so much for the amazing results and outstanding service.
★★★★★I had composite bonding on one tooth along with teeth whitening, and I’m genuinely amazed by the results. I used to be so self-conscious about that tooth, but now it looks perfect and blends in so naturally. My smile is so much brighter too! 🥰 Thank you so much. I’ll definitely be back to finish the rest. 🙏🏻
The straight answer
Composite bonding applies tooth-coloured resin directly to the tooth to change its shape, close a gap or repair a chip. The surface is prepared with a bonding agent, the composite is built up and sculpted by hand, then hardened with a curing light and polished. In most cases no healthy tooth structure is removed.
Chipped or worn edges, small gaps between front teeth, teeth that are slightly small or misshapen, and irregular edges. It can also mask minor position differences without moving the teeth.
The tooth surface is cleaned and conditioned so the resin bonds to it chemically. Composite is placed in layers, each hardened with a light, then shaped, contoured and polished to match the surrounding teeth.
The result is immediate and can be excellent, but composite is softer and more porous than porcelain. It picks up staining and chips over time, and it needs periodic polishing, repair or replacement.
Why patients come to us
A chipped edge can be rebuilt directly with composite matched to the surrounding tooth, usually in one appointment and often without anaesthetic.
Practical outcome: the tooth restored the same day, with no laboratory work and no enamel removed.
Small and moderate gaps can be closed by adding composite to the adjacent surfaces, altering the width of the teeth.
Practical outcome: the gap closed without braces or veneers, though moving the teeth may still be the better option for larger spaces.
Edges wear down over years, particularly with grinding or acid erosion. Composite can rebuild length and even out the edges.
Practical outcome: restored edge shape, with the cause of the wear assessed so the new material is not lost the same way.
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Suitability
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
Teeth, gums and bite are checked, and the specific changes you want are agreed. Where wear or erosion is present, the cause is assessed first.
Composite is matched to your tooth shade and cannot be whitened afterwards, so any whitening is completed before bonding is placed.
The shade is matched to your teeth in natural light. Several shades are often layered to reproduce the way a natural tooth transmits light.
The tooth is cleaned and conditioned so the resin bonds to it. In most cases no healthy tooth is removed and anaesthetic is not needed.
Composite is applied in layers and hardened with a curing light, then shaped to the agreed form.
The bonding is refined, the bite is checked and adjusted, and the surface is polished to a natural lustre.
Bonding is checked at your routine appointments and can be repolished to restore surface shine.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Fees
Fees depend on what the examination finds, which is why the figures below are starting points rather than quotations.
One examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
Where no tooth is being removed, bonding is usually carried out without anaesthetic. You may feel the tooth being cleaned and the cool air of the curing light, but not pain.
Where an old restoration is being replaced or decay removed, local anaesthetic is used. Tell your dentist if you feel anything sharp.
There is no recovery period. You can eat and drink immediately, although avoiding strongly coloured food and drink for the first 24 hours helps the surface settle without picking up staining.
Tell the practice if the bonding feels high when you bite, if an edge feels sharp against your lip or tongue, or if the material chips.
Common questions
It varies with how much material is placed, where it is, and how you use your teeth. Expect to need periodic repolishing, and repair or replacement in due course rather than treating it as permanent. Grinding, biting hard objects and heavy staining habits shorten its life considerably.
In most cases no healthy tooth structure is removed, which is the main advantage over veneers and crowns. The surface is conditioned so the resin bonds to it, and where no enamel has been cut the material can generally be removed later and the tooth returns to its previous state.
Composite is more porous than porcelain and does pick up colour over time, particularly from tea, coffee, red wine and tobacco. The junction between bonding and tooth is where staining shows first. Repolishing at hygiene appointments restores much of the appearance, and heavy staining is addressed by replacing the material.
No. Composite does not respond to whitening gel. If you plan to whiten, do it before bonding is placed so the material can be matched to the final shade. Whitening afterwards would lighten the natural teeth and leave the bonding looking darker.
Neither is better in general; they suit different situations. Bonding is additive, usually needs no anaesthetic, is completed in one visit, and is repairable. Veneers give greater control over shape and colour and resist staining better, but permanently remove enamel. For smaller changes, bonding is frequently the more sensible starting point.
Small and moderate gaps can be closed well. Large gaps closed with composite alone can leave teeth looking noticeably wider than natural proportions, which some patients dislike once they see it. Where the gap is significant, moving the teeth with aligners first and bonding afterwards usually gives a better result.
Usually not at all, and in most cases no injection is needed because no healthy tooth is being removed. Where an old filling is being replaced or decay removed at the same time, local anaesthetic is used.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.
