Do you feel unhappy with the way that your teeth appear lately? Whether you want to achieve a brighter, straighter, or fuller-looking smile, your dentist can help you accomplish your smile aesthetic goals. They will use an individualized approach to find the cosmetic dental treatment that will suit your unique smile.
Teeth bonding and porcelain veneers are two options that work to improve the appearance of teeth, though their methods vary significantly. Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between these two highly effective cosmetic dental procedures.
Sculpt Teeth Bonding to Your Aesthetic Goals
Teeth bonding is a type of cosmetic dental treatment that uses composite resin applied, sculpted, and cured to affected teeth to help reach a patient’s aesthetic goals. The procedure can be completed within one session with your dentist. It begins with a dentist preparing the surface of the teeth, making the resin better able to adhere.
This involves etching into the tooth enamel. Your dentist will give you a local anesthetic so that you do not feel discomfort during the process. Then they apply the resin and mold it where needed.
They then use a specialized light to cure and harden the resin so that it remains on the teeth. With proper care, bonding can give you a bright, even, and straight smile. The benefits can last for three to ten years though you can undergo a touch-up within this time if needed.
Note that bonding can be subject to discoloration if you are not careful when consuming staining agents. Follow aftercare guidelines from your dentist to ensure your smile enhancement lasts as long as possible. This treatment allows for an affordable yet effective way to get the smile of your dreams.
Build an Enhanced Smile with Porcelain Veneers
Your dentist might also recommend porcelain veneers to improve the appearance of your teeth. This cosmetic dental solution involves custom-made shells that a dentist attaches to the front of the teeth to build a whiter, more aligned smile according to your unique goals.
They adhere into place using dental bonding, so you can anticipate a similar start of this treatment as with tooth bonding. However, you will need more than one appointment to finish this treatment. The dentist will take impressions of your teeth and need time to build your veneers according to the size, shape, and desired results of your smile.
Then you return to the dentist to receive permanent veneers when they are finished being made in the dental lab. They seal into place and will stay there for fifteen years or longer with adequate maintenance. Your dentist will let you know which oral habits could harm your veneers and interfere with your cosmetic dental treatment.
If you do damage your veneers, this seal over the teeth will break and put your underlying teeth in danger from plaque and bacteria. So contact your dentist for urgent repairs if your veneers crack, loosen, or dislodge. Porcelain veneers might cost more, but they can offer more durable advantages than other treatment options too.