Bonding refers to facings, like the veneers above, only using plastic resin, rather than porcelain. And, they are made right on the spot, without a dental lab involved. Bonding is a composite resin filling placed in the back teeth as well as the front teeth.

Composites are the solution for restoring decayed teeth, making cosmetic improvements and even changing the color of your teeth or the reshaping of teeth. Bonding will lighten any stains you may have, close up minor gaps and can be used to correct crooked teeth.

Basically, bonding will cover any natural flaws applying a thin coating of a plastic material on the front surface of your teeth. After this, your cosmetic dentist will apply a bonding material and sculpt, color and shape it to provide a pleasing result. A high-intensity light then hardens the plastic, and the surface is finely polished.

If you have close, small gaps between your front teeth, or if you have chipped or cracked teeth, you may be a candidate for bonding. Bonding is also used for patients who have discolored teeth, uneven teeth, gum recession or tooth decay.

The advantage of bonding is that there is usually no anesthetic or tooth preparation involved. The disadvantage is that, because they are resins, they do not last as long.

As veneers and they can discolor with age

|

Veneers are laminated porcelain facings that are made in a dental lab and cemented over the front of your natural teeth. They are the cure for teeth that are severely discolored, chipped, have small holes or pits, misshapen or crooked, or for the correction of unwanted or uneven spaces. Strong and very durable, veneers last from ten to fifteen years.

Dental veneers can be used to correct both color and shape problems:

COLOR: This procedure is especially attractive to people who have discolored teeth, but don't want to have their teeth prepared for conventional crowning. Teeth enamel discoloration can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Some of the more common causes of teeth discoloration are medications, coffee, tea, cola soft drinks and cigarettes.

SHAPE: Veneers, porcelain or plastic, are placed over the front teeth to change color shape of the teeth. Veneers are ideal for teeth that are too small, too big, or have uneven surfaces. It is very common for people to have imperfect teeth, either oddly shaped teeth, chipped teeth, crooked teeth, teeth with small holes in them, or an inappropriate sized tooth or teeth that have an odd appearance. Veneers solve such irregularities and create a durable and pleasing smile.

|

Tooth enamel discoloration can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Some of the more common causes of tooth discoloration are medications, coffee, tea or cigarettes. People who drink significant amounts of cola soft drinks can experience similar staining. Damage to the root may also contribute to discoloration.

BEFORE	AFTER

Tooth whitening is used to correct discoloration of a tooth by removing the brown and yellow staining. The term "tooth whitening" or "tooth bleaching" can refer to a number of techniques to improve the brightness of the patient's tooth.