If you’ve been told you’re not a good candidate for teeth whitening, don’t worry — a lighter and more radiant smile is still within reach! Drs. Cory and Jennifer Chambers of Cobblestone Park Family Dental offer several cosmetic dental treatments that can mask stains or discoloration that do not respond well to teeth whitening.
We discuss two popular alternative options here.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding involves applying a composite resin material to the surface of teeth to alter their shape, size or color. The procedure is quick and efficient. First, the dentist uses a shade guide to select the color of the resin material so it closely resembles the color of the surrounding teeth. Next, the resin material is applied to the tooth or teeth, and is carefully sculpted to the desired shape and size. It is then bonded into place.
In addition to stains and discoloration, dental bonding can mask chips, cracks, gaps and irregularly sized or shaped teeth.
The advantage of dental bonding is that it is a quick and cost effective treatment compared to other treatments. In addition, dental bonding is reversible if the patient is unhappy with the results.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are thin shells of high-quality porcelain that are slipped over the front surface of teeth. Like dental bonding, veneers are designed to conceal an array of cosmetic imperfections, including stains, discoloration, gaps, oddly shaped teeth or unevenly sized teeth.
The process of placing veneers is more extensive than that of dental bonding. It typically takes two appointments to create and fit the veneers. During the first appointment, a small amount of tooth structure is removed from the tooth or teeth to make space for the veneers. Next, impressions will be made and sent to the dental laboratory that will create the veneers. Once the veneers are ready (which typically takes about two weeks), the dentist bonds the veneers into place.
One advantage of veneers is the quality of results. Thanks to the translucent quality of porcelain, results with veneers may be more attractive than with dental bonding, as composite resin tends to be more porous. However, it is important to understand that due to the removal of tooth structure during the first appointment, the process of placing veneers is irreversible.
To explore your options for a whiter and healthier-looking smile, schedule a consultation with Cobblestone Park Family Dental. Call our Oklahoma City at (405) 603-8520.