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Composite bonding before and after

These are the five real before and after cases on our home page, grouped by what each patient wanted fixed: gaps (two cases), chipped edges, shade and crowded edges. Each one was treated by a Dental Council-registered dentist and is published with the patient's written consent. Under every photo we say what changed and what kind of bonding it took, because that decides the price: at the Irish median of €250 a tooth, six teeth comes to about €1,500 (price survey).

Cases and captions as on our home page. Prices from our September 2026 survey of 75 clinics; clinical points link to pages read on 31 October 2026.

Key points

Five cases, no stock photos: two gap closures, one chip repair, one shade change, one crowded lower edge.
Edge bonding (chips) and full-surface bonding (shade) are priced differently. Ask which one your quote is for.
Bonding changes the shape and colour of teeth. It doesn't move them, so crowding is disguised, not corrected.
At the €250 median, Aoife's six teeth come to about €1,500 and Sinéad's eight to about €2,000. Our arithmetic, not what they paid.

Closing gaps (2 cases)

Composite bonding before and after, upper six teeth — GapsAoife, 29: six upper teeth, closed a midline gap eight weeks before her wedding.
**What it shows.** The space between the two front teeth is closed, and the six upper teeth now read as one even row. Six teeth were treated for one gap, so the change is spread across the smile rather than only widening the two front teeth.

Before and after composite bonding closing small gaps — GapsLaura, 26: narrow gaps closed either side of the midline.
**What it shows.** Narrow gaps either side of the two front teeth are closed by building out the sides of the teeth. The change is more subtle than Aoife's: the shape of each tooth is kept, and only the spaces are filled.

Chipped and worn edges (1 case)

Before and after composite bonding on chipped upper front teeth — ChipsCiara, 34: worn and chipped upper edges rebuilt in a single visit.
**What it shows.** The front edges were short and uneven from wear and chips. After bonding they are longer and level with each other. Rebuilding worn and chipped edges is the job usually called edge bonding.

Uneven or yellow shade (1 case)

Before and after composite bonding, brighter even shade — DiscolourationSinéad, 31: shade evened out across the upper eight.
**What it shows.** The before photo shows a patchy, yellower shade across the front teeth. After, the upper eight are one consistent shade. Because the colour change is done with composite, it covers the front surface of each tooth, which is full-surface work rather than edge bonding.

Crowded or uneven edges (1 case)

Before and after composite bonding, edges levelled — RealignmentNiamh, 41: crowded lower edges reshaped and levelled.
**What it shows.** The lower edges sat at different heights because the teeth are crowded. Bonding and reshaping levelled the line of the edges. Nothing moved: the teeth are in the same place, and the change is in their shape. This is the limit of what bonding does for crowding.

What these cases would cost

Clinics price bonding per tooth. Our survey of 75 Irish clinics found a median of €250 a tooth and a range of €125 to €800 (price survey). Using the median, and only where the caption gives the number of teeth:

Aoife, six upper teeth: 6 × €250 = about €1,500.
Sinéad, upper eight: 8 × €250 = about €2,000.

That is our arithmetic on published prices, not what either patient paid. Edge work usually sits at the low end of a clinic's range. White Smile Dental, for example, publishes €150 for incisal edge bonding, €200 for partial bonding and €250 for full composite bonding (White Smile Dental). Prices in your county are on the cost page and the near me page.

How to judge a before and after photo

Ask for the dentist's own cases. Docklands Dental tells patients to look at "before-and-after photos of actual work done by the dentist who'll be treating you, not stock images" (Docklands Dental). It's good advice whoever gives it.
Check the light and the angle match. A brighter photo or a wider smile in the after shot makes any result look bigger.
Look at the edges and the gum line. Good bonding blends at the margin. A visible line where composite meets tooth is where stain collects later.
Ask how old the after photo is. Composite looks its best on the day. Studies find marginal staining and some loss of shine build up over years, mostly fixable with a polish or small repair (Kim et al.).
Ask what it took. How many teeth, edge or full surface, and was whitening done first? Whitening gel doesn't change the colour of composite, so clinics whiten before bonding (Winning Smile).

What bonding can and can't show you

Every case above changes the shape or colour of teeth that stay where they are. Bonding can hide minor misalignment and give the look of straighter teeth, but clinics recommend braces or aligners for more pronounced crowding (Truly Dental), and it won't correct a crooked smile caused by an overbite or underbite (Swords Dental). If your concern is crowding, read bonding on overlapping teeth; for lower teeth like Niamh's, bonding on bottom teeth.

No cost, no obligation

Get the prices for your county

Every clinic we found publishing a bonding price in your county, what each figure covers, and an introduction to a Dental Council registered dentist near you.

We are not a dental practice and we do not give clinical advice. We may be paid a fee by the clinic you choose to see.

Before and after questions

Are these real composite bonding before and after photos?

Yes. All five were treated by a Dental Council-registered dentist and are published with each patient's written consent. They are the same cases shown on our home page.

How many teeth do people usually bond?

Most people treat the six or eight teeth that show when they smile. Aoife had six upper teeth done and Sinéad the upper eight. A single chip can be one tooth.

Will my result look like these?

Not necessarily. The result depends on your teeth, bite and gums, which only a dentist can assess in person. Our free smile preview shows an illustrative simulation on your own photo, not a promise.

Does composite bonding look natural close up?

When it's well done, yes: the composite is shade-matched to your teeth and polished. Over the years it can lose some shine and pick up stain at the edges, which a polish or small repair usually fixes.

How much would a smile like these cost in Ireland?

At the Irish median of €250 a tooth, six teeth is about €1,500 and eight about €2,000. Published prices run from €125 to €800 a tooth across 75 clinics.

See bonding on your own teeth first

Send one selfie and see what composite bonding could look like on your teeth, then meet a Dental Council-registered dentist near you. Free, no obligation.

Free smile preview

More composite bonding guides

What is composite bonding?What it is, what it fixes, what it can't.Composite bonding near mePublished prices in all 26 counties.Overlapping teethWhen bonding can hide an overlap.Bottom teethWhy the bite decides it.Receding gumsRoots, black triangles, and what comes first.What it costs in Ireland75 clinics' published prices.How long it lastsWhat the clinical studies found.Bonding vs veneersPrice, lifespan and what each does to the tooth.Turkey vs IrelandThe published prices, and the Dental Council's checklist.

Sources (7)

Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages on 31 October 2026. We are not affiliated with any clinic or organisation listed.

compositebonding.ie price survey of 75 clinics, September 2026: compositebonding.ie
White Smile Dental, composite bonding prices: whitesmiledental.ie
Docklands Dental, composite bonding cost: docklandsdental.ie
Kim et al., Journal of Dentistry 2026 (PMID 41529786): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Winning Smile (Carrigaline), composite bonding: winningsmile.ie
Truly Dental, composite bonding: trulydental.ie
Swords Dental, composite bonding: swords-dental.ie