Veneers & Bonding

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility. As a cosmetic dental procedure, dental veneers create a brighter, whiter smile composed of more perfectly aligned and shapely teeth. Veneers are sometimes placed for cosmetic reasons alone, rather than for necessary health purposes. The translucent quality of today’s porcelain veneers provides a more natural look than what has been available to past generations. This allows a beautiful and natural looking smile. Porcelain material is a perfect solution for the demands of your teeth.

Placing custom veneers requires a high degree of technical skill as well as attention to cosmetic detail. Dr. Alemi places veneers routinely and designs each case individually to match and enhance the characteristics of each patient’s smile.

Despite the cause of unattractive teeth, veneers alone have the ability to solve most, if not all, of your cosmetic concerns regarding your smile and existing teeth. These problems include:

– Wear and Tear: Teeth naturally wear down as people age. Older teeth are more likely to have cracks, chips, or an uneven appearance.
– Worn Enamel: The thin, hard white substance covering your teeth (enamel) may become worn, dulled, and discolored over time.
– Uneven Teeth: Uneven length or width of teeth can be result of teeth grinding or general wear.
– Genetics: Certain people may be born with abnormal appearance of teeth or spacing between the teeth that grows wider as they age.

WILL THEY LOOK LIKE NORMAL TEETH?
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options.

HOW DURABLE ARE PORCELAIN VENEERS?
With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for well over a decade. Dr. Alemi will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.

Refraining from using your veneers as tools to open and cut things will prolong their life and if accidental breakage or damage occurs, it is usually possible to replace only the veneer involved.

Bonding

Bonding is an alternative to veneers and can be used as a restorative procedure for teeth that are chipped, cracked, and/or discolored.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The tooth is prepared for the procedure by lightly etching the surface and applying a bonding liquid. Once the liquid sets, a plastic resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once set, the resin is trimmed, smoothed, and polished for a natural appearance.

CONSIDERATIONS
The bonding procedure can often be completed in a single office visit and can significantly improve the appearance of a tooth. However, since the plastic resin used is not as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is more likely to stain, chip, or break than natural teeth. Bondings are usually used a temporary means of evaluating esthetics for a patients prior to veneers and all ceramic crowns for cosmetic make-overs.