Porcelain Dental Veneers
Porcelain Dental Veneers are thin shells that are custom crafted and bonded to the surface of the teeth. Although they can be fabricated from different materials most often uses porcelain because of its durability and realistic appearance. Porcelain Veneers is a popular dental treatment for:
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- Repairing damaged, chipped, or cracked teeth that make you embarrassed to smile.
- Filling unsightly gaps and spaces between your teeth that make you self-conscious
- Covering severely stained or dark-colored teeth that look unsightly
- Making your teeth straight so your smile looks more appealing
- Whitening your teeth for a beautiful bright-white natural-looking smile
Veneers require minimal tooth preparation, relative to other cosmetic dental procedures, veneers can achieve outstanding improvements in color, alignment, size discrepancies, and general appearance. Porcelain veneers are the more conservative alternative to dental crowns because the veneer requires less removal of the original surface of a tooth. Porcelain veneers, when prepared and applied properly, should not be noticeable to the naked eye. Upon completion, the veneers should look and feel like real teeth and not appear to be bulky, opaque or thick. We work with each patient to choose the ideal veneer color and shape to enhance your smile, without looking fake or unnatural. Porcelain veneers are custom made and precisely fitted to your teeth and allow you to customize your smile exactly the way you want it. Your porcelain veneers will cover and repair any cracked or chipped teeth. If you have crooked or misaligned teeth, porcelain veneers can be used to improve their alignment, shape and appearance to give you a beautiful new smile. Veneers are resistant to staining and discoloring, and in most cases will be stronger than your original natural teeth. Having a smile makeover with porcelain veneers usually only takes two office visits. Your veneers will be custom designed in a style and proportion that will fit your face, look completely natural, and give you a fabulous new smile you’ll be proud to show off.
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- During your first visit we will prepare your teeth to receive the permanent veneers that will be fabricated by one of our amazing dental labs. You will leave that day with temporary restorations (made in our office) that look fantastic. They are only meant to last until your permanent veneers are ready. This normally takes about 4 weeks.
- During your second visit, your permanent dental veneers will be placed, and you will leave our dental office with a beautiful new smile! The improvement in your smile will be instant and dramatic.
Video of Dental Porcelain Veneers
Tooth Bonding
Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin (plastic) to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured or discolored tooth. Unlike veneers, which are manufactured in a laboratory and require a customized mold to achieve a proper fit, bonding can be done in a single visit. The procedure is called bonding because of the material bonds to the tooth.
How Can Cosmetic Dental Bonding Improve My Smile?
Cosmetic dental bonding can fix a variety of flaws including
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- Chipped teeth.
- Closing space between two teeth.
- Cracked or broken teeth.
- Decayed teeth.
- Slightly Maligned Teeth
- Worn teeth
- Some Stained or discolored teeth.
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Cosmetic dental bonding provides an inexpensive and extremely conservative way to improve your smile. However, dental bonding will eventually show wear and tear and may need replacing every few years. For a more long-lasting cosmetic solution, you may want to consider porcelain veneers. Dental bonding is perfect for small cosmetic makeovers leaving you with a brilliant cosmetic smile.
How Long Will Cosmetic Bonding Last?
Composite resin is a durable, biocompatible material that your skilled dentist, can use to fill a cavity as easily as filling in a gap between two teeth or reshape a chipped tooth. While your cosmetically bonded tooth can function perfectly for years, several factors can affect its appearance. For instance, drinks such as coffee, red wine, and cranberry juice, and foods such as tomato sauce, blueberries, and soy sauce can penetrate and leave discolorations on dental bonding. Chewing or smoking tobacco can also accelerate the accumulation of stains on the composite resin. Even certain abrasive kinds of toothpaste can damage the surface of your dental bonding. With proper care, your cosmetic bonding can stay beautiful but you will need to avoid common sources of stains and scratches.
How Should I Care for My Cosmetic Bonding?
Since composite resin closely mimics tooth enamel, you should care for a bonded tooth just like you would care for your natural teeth. Follow these steps to help extend the life of your cosmetic bonding:
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- Brushing for two minutes, two times per day, and flossing once every day, preferably just before bed.
- Make sure that you use minimally abrasive toothpaste. Abrasive additives in many kinds of toothpaste can scratch the surface of your cosmetic bonding, dulling the finish and encouraging stain accumulation.
- If you choose to use mouthwash, use one that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol can actually weaken dental bonding.
- Visit your dentist for regularly scheduled checkups and cleanings to keep plaque and tartar in check and prevent that can compromise your oral health and the longevity of your dental bonding.
- Should the need arise, we can also repair or refinish cosmetic bonding that has discolored or needs retouching.
If you want a cosmetic dentistry solution with a longer life than cosmetic bonding, you may want to discuss porcelain veneers. Not everyone has the enamel strength to qualify for veneers and veneers require a larger time investment and are more cost-intensive than bonding. Having a candid discussion with your dentist will help you determine your smile goals and develop a cosmetic treatment plan that will get you the smile you want. Since composite resin closely mimics tooth enamel, you should care for a bonded tooth just like you would care for your natural teeth. Follow these steps to help extend the life of your cosmetic bonding:
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- Brushing for two minutes, two times per day, and flossing once every day, preferably just before bed.
- Make sure that you use minimally abrasive toothpaste. Abrasive additives in many kinds of toothpaste can scratch the surface of your cosmetic bonding, dulling the finish and encouraging stain accumulation.
- If you choose to use mouthwash, use one that does not contain alcohol. Alcohol can actually weaken dental bonding.
- Visit your dentist for regularly scheduled check ups and cleanings to keep plaque and tartar in check and prevent that can compromise your oral health and the longevity of your dental bonding.
- Should the need arise, we can also repair or refinish cosmetic bonding that has discolored or needs retouching.
If you want a cosmetic dentistry solution with a longer life than cosmetic bonding, you may want to discuss porcelain veneers. Not everyone has the enamel strength to qualify for veneers and veneers require a larger time investment and are more cost-intensive than bonding. Having a candid discussion with our professional North Austin Dentist will help you determine your smile goals and develop a cosmetic treatment plan that will get you the smile you want.