Many people work hard to look just right, but then, they catch a glimpse of their smile and all their hard work seems to have been for nothing. The smile is one of the first things we notice when meeting others, but it is also one of the things many patients find to worry about when it comes to their appearance. We all want to look our very best, and the smallest smile flaw can dramatically impact our entire appearance. If you have an over-large gap between your front teeth and you’re struggling to make it work for you the way Anna Paquin or Laurence Fishburne do, a trip to the dentist may be in order. Many patients think that all cosmetic dentistry services will be costly or involve a huge time commitment. Actually, there are two cosmetic dentistry solutions that can correct the gap between your front teeth in just a few short visits – cosmetic bonding and porcelain veneers.
What is Cosmetic Bonding?
Cosmetic bonding is a one visit dentistry treatment that allows us to close a gap between teeth in just a single visit at an affordable cost. Using the same composite resin utilized for tooth-colored fillings, we can quickly close the space between front teeth. We simply apply a thin coat of etchant material to the surfaces of teeth. Then, we use the putty-like composite resin to build up the sides of the teeth. Once there is adequate composite to fill the gap between the teeth, we simply harden the resin into place using a low heat light. Finally, we smooth and polish the composite, leaving patients with flawless smiles.
What are Veneers?
Porcelain veneers and minimal prep Lumineers are sheaths of porcelain that affix to the front facing surfaces of teeth. We can craft a porcelain veneer to correct a number of cosmetic dental flaws, including chips, cracks, stains, and gaps. Crafted in our dental lab using a high quality porcelain, we’ll need to perform the veneer placement over the course of two office visits. During the first appointment we prepare teeth and capture bite impressions that will be used by the lab to craft your veneer or Lumineer. Once we receive these cosmetic restorations from the lab, you’ll return, so we can place them, creating your most beautiful smile.
Which Option is Right for My Tooth Gaps?
No treatment is right for every patient, so before we make a recommendation, we’ll begin by examining your smile. We’ll discuss the advantages of each treatment option, and help you find the right solution. For larger gaps, porcelain veneers are likely the better option because the material is stronger. If you regularly drink coffee or consume other darkly pigmented foods and drinks, porcelain veneers may be right for you since they are stain resistant. However, for patients who want to quickly and affordably improve their appearance, cosmetic bonding is ideal. These procedures are finished in a single visit and are about half the cost of veneers in most cases.
Meet Dr. Stansbury
At the Tyler dental office of Dennis E. Stansbury, DDS, we’re happy to provide a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services to help you create a flawless smile. Whether you decide on cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, Lumineers, or any of our other services, the Stansbury Dental team will partner with you to develop a plan to achieve the smile of your dreams within your schedule and budget. To get started down the road to your gorgeous, healthy smile, call our Tyler dentistry team today. We look forward to offering you care for all of your dentistry needs.