Dental Bonding & Veneers Houston, TX
If you don’t have an Instagram-worthy smile, you are not the only one. Every year, thousands, if not millions of Americans undergo dental bonding and veneer procedures to make their teeth look perfect.
At Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS, Dr. Garcia can help you get the smile you deserve.
Dental veneers are very thin custom-fitted shells of porcelain that are designed to fit on the surface of your tooth in order to hide any defects and give you a “Hollywood” smile.
Although these veneers are created to conceal discolored, chipped, misaligned, or small teeth as well as hide slight gaps between teeth, their benefits are not just cosmetic but also beneficial to your dental health. Like dental fillings, veneers also protect eroded teeth from further damage and prevent sensitivity,
Application Process of Dental Veneers
Getting veneers typically require multiple sessions. To prepare your teeth for veneers, we will file away about half a millimeter of dental structure from the surface of each tooth so that the veneers will easily fit on them and won’t look bulky.
We will take a few x-rays and molds of your teeth and ensure the color of the veneers matches your natural teeth. The impressions are then sent to our dental lab to fabricate the veneers exactly according to your teeth.
Once the veneers are made, we will etch the surface of your teeth so that the veneers will adhere to them easily. Your teeth and the veneers are coated with a dental bonding agent and then the veneers are then fitted to the teeth.. A curing light is used to accelerate the bonding process.
In the end, we may file away any excess cement, check your bite, and make final adjustments to the veneers.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure in which a tooth-colored composite resin material is applied to the surface of your tooth. This material is colored to match your natural teeth. A dental bonding procedure can be beneficial if your teeth are stained, discolored, chipped, or have thin enamel. Den
Application Process of Dental Bonding
The process of applying bonding material to your tooth is much shorter than application of a veneer.
We will remove a very tiny amount of dental structure from the surface of the tooth so that the bonding material can easily stick to it. A rough, putty-like resinous material is then applied to the tooth in layers. It is then hardened with the use of a curing light. The excess bonding material is scaled off and just like that, you will get a straight and white smile.
Main Difference Between Dental Veneers and Bonding
Veneers and bonding are both dental cosmetic procedures that result in a natural-looking, straight, and even smile. However, they both have a few key characteristics that set them apart from each other.
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Treatment: Both veneers and bonding material are great options for hiding small dental defects. However, veneers are more effective when it comes to disguising more pronounced cosmetic concerns like crooked teeth, small adult teeth and gaps.
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Tooth Health: Dentists need to remove a small amount of tooth structure from the surface of your tooth when applying veneers. However, dental bonding requires only a slight etching on the tooth surface, which means it is better for your dental health.
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Permanency: Since veneers require tooth surface to be removed, the process is irreversible because enamel cannot grow back and the tooth will always need to be protected. However, bonding is a much more conservative treatment and if you choose to remove your bonding material, it can be done with no problems.
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Durability: Veneers are made of porcelain which is a durable material and can last for 10 to 15 years if given proper care. In contrast, bonding only lasts for three to 10 years depending on your level of oral and dental care.
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Appearance: Porcelain has a certain sheen to it that mimics the shine of the enamel on your natural tooth. Bonded teeth may look slightly less natural up close.
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Stains: Porcelain is a highly stain-resistant material so it will not get stained if you exercise good lifestyle habits and not consume dark food and beverages. Resin-based composite material, though, is more susceptible to discoloration.
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Time: Veneer application may require multiple sessions while bonding is done in a single session, often within an hour.
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Cost: Veneers are also more expensive than a bonding procedure. |
Whether you want to get veneers, a bonding procedure or a full mouth reconstruction, the decision rests on your dental health and your preference. At Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS, we can advise you on the pros and cons of both these procedures so that you make an informed decision. To schedule an appointment with us, call us at (346) 250-2930 today.
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