BONDING AND VENEERS

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light, which ultimately "bonds" the material to the tooth to restore or improve a person's smile.

Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:

* To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
* To repair chipped or cracked teeth
* To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
* To close spaces between teeth
* To make teeth look longer
* To change the shape of teeth
* As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
* To protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede

Dental veneers (sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size or length.

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Resin veneers are thinner and require removal of less of the tooth surface before placement. You will need to discuss the best choice of veneer material for you with your dentist.

What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?

Veneers are routinely used to fix:

* Teeth that are discolored -- either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other   causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
* Teeth that are worn down
* Teeth that are chipped or broken
* Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
* Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

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