Do your twisted teeth ruin your good mood and spoil your self-confidence? Does the thought of having a metal-like mouth make you take a step back from teeth straightening treatments? You can now breathe a sigh of relief. With dental technology making giant leaps, even as we speak, you can now have perfectly aligned teeth without any braces at all!
Veneers
Thanks to dental veneers, you can mask any crooked teeth and defects, such as discolorations. Veneers are ultra thin porcelain (or another composite resin material) shells that are attached to the front of your teeth, with minimum anaesthesia required (if any at all). If you want to improve a smile and the appearance of your front teeth, this is the best available option for you!
In some cases, you may use veneers instead of crowns, because, unlike crowns, veneers do not cause much changing to the teeth’s shape, colour, or size. Instead, they hide imperfections, such as gaps, and stained/chipped/damaged/worn teeth, while they also help mask any front-teeth discoloured fillings. Veneers, when properly applied, are usually distinguished by extremely enduring quality.
Most people have veneers for cosmetic reasons, which is why veneers are usually applied on the front upper teeth (maximum of 8 teeth), since these are the ones that usually show when you smile or talk. Therefore, there is no need to have veneers to every single tooth.
In order to finish the improving appearance procedure, and have your brand new veneers, you will need an average of 3 visits to the dentist. The first one is for a dental examination, where you can talk things through with your dentist, and ask all questions you have in mind, in regards procedure, and results.
During your second visit; your dentist will make sure the thickness of the veneers is properly accommodated, and then prepare your teeth by shaving a layer of enamel from their surface. Then, your dentist will make models of the teeth veneers will be applied onto, which will be sent to a dental lab that will make your veneers. However, you won’t leave the dentist without temporary veneers, before you have your permanent ones ready.
The third visit is all about making sure the permanent veneers fit perfectly and look great. The colour must be right, and the same applies to size. In any other case, the dentist will adjust the colour with the use of cement shades, and trim the veneers, so you get absolute perfection! Of course, any excess cement will be removed, before your dentist proceeds with the final stage and applies laser light to cure the cement.
Cosmetic Bonding
Dental bonding is ideal if you have small cracks, chips and teeth discolorations and need brighten teeth and a beautiful smile. Bondings do not change the physiology of the tooth in any way, because the composite resin material is applied to the teeth without shaving a layer of their enamel, like when placing veneers. Moreover, if you are not using dental bonding to fill a tooth that has decayed, there is no need for anaesthesia or any particular preparation.
To begin with, your dentist will determine which composite resin colour best matches your teeth’s colour, with the help of a shade guide, and then prepare the teeth (etch their surface a bit) to receive the bonding adhesive material. Then, it is time to apply the resin, which has previously been molded and evened, and finish it off with laser or ultraviolet light to enhance the longevity of the dental bonding. Finally, bonding materials may need some trimming and polishing, so the colour of your teeth is alike.
Dental bonding is a 30-minute procedure (more or less), but if you need to have dental bonding to several teeth, you can book a longer appointment to have them all done in one go or come on different days.
In regards costs, dental bonding is more cost-effective, compared to veneers. However, discolouring is frequent, and you will need to have its colour refreshed every now and then. Also, substances like coffee and tea, as well as smoking, stain the resin, so it’s best if you stayed away from harmful substances for at least the first 2 days after any composite procedure. Needless to say, dental hygiene is important; so, try to brush your teeth properly and regularly, and visit a dental hygienist for some extra professional dental care.
NOTES: If you place veneers, you will not be able to get your teeth back to their original state (an enamel layer is shaved, remember?), in case you change your mind afterwards. It is also best if you could avoid some beverages (see coffee, red wine, tea etc) and foods that might stain your veneers or change their colour. Also, there are cases when veneers chip or crack; however, it is not a common scenario. That being said, having veneers is definitely worth it, judging by the remarkable results.
No matter which procedure you choose, you are bound to have a natural-looking result that will last for long and help hide all imperfections, gaps, misalignments, and damaged teeth that once required a prolonged time to resolve. With the expertise of professionals like ALKALI DENTAL STUDIOS, in Putney, South West London and without the use of braces, you can enjoy perfectly aligned and brightened teeth, and, of course, the widest, happiest smile ever, within a limited time.
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