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Porcelain Veneers or Direct Bonding: Which Is Right for You?

August 10, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — tntadmin @ 12:54 am
Man with beautiful smile thanks to porcelain veneers in Southlake

Do you cover your mouth when you laugh? Do you avoid smiling in photos? Feeling embarrassed about the appearance of your teeth can have a huge impact on your daily life and self-confidence. Thankfully, a wide variety of dental imperfections can be easily, comfortably, and flawlessly corrected with treatments like direct bonding and porcelain veneers in Southlake. Read on to learn more about these popular cosmetic dental services and how to choose which one is right for you.  

What Issues Can Porcelain Veneers & Direct Bonding Fix?

While there are many differences between porcelain veneers and direct bonding, these two popular treatments are both excellent solutions for a wide variety of dental flaws. These services are often used to improve the appearance of:

  • Stained or severely discolored teeth.
  • Teeth that are chipped, cracked, or damaged.
  • Gapped, misshapen, or worn-down teeth.

However, each treatment uses a slightly different method to erase these imperfections and give you a dazzling smile. To choose the one that’s best for your unique situation, it’s important to consider a few key factors.

What Are the Pros of Choosing Direct Bonding?

Direct bonding utilizes a tooth-colored composite resin that can be applied directly to your tooth. Your skilled Southlake cosmetic dentist will sculpt the putty-like substance until your tooth’s ideal shape is achieved, then harden it into place with a specialized curing light. Some of the notable advantages of this treatment include:

  • Quick results: While it may take several appointments and a few weeks for your porcelain veneers to be created and placed, direct bonding can typically correct dental flaws in just one quick visit.
  • No tooth preparation required: For porcelain veneers to blend in naturally with your smile, a thin layer of tooth enamel must be permanently removed. On the other hand, direct bonding doesn’t require any tooth preparation at all!
  • Cost-effective treatment: In most cases, direct bonding can offer beautiful results that revitalize your smile at a lower cost than porcelain veneers.

What Are the Benefits of Choosing Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are custom-made shells of dental porcelain that can be permanently affixed to the front of one or more teeth. They cover the entire visible portion of a tooth to completely change its size, shape, and color. There are numerous benefits of choosing this cosmetic treatment, like:

  • Correct a wider array of issues: Porcelain veneers are a more effective solution for pronounced issues like dark stains or larger cracks than direct bonding.
  • Longer-lasting results: While direct bonding will typically need to be touched-up after five to ten years, you can expect your porcelain veneers to last ten to 15 years or more with great oral hygiene.
  • Durable & stain-resistant material: Not only is dental porcelain well-known for its lifelike appearance, but it provides durability and resistance to stains that you can’t get with direct bonding. 

The best way to choose the cosmetic treatment that’s right for you is to schedule a personalized consultation with your Southlake cosmetic dentist. After taking the time to fully understand your smile goals and complete a comprehensive dental examination, they can help you choose the best path towards the smile you’ve always wanted.

About the Author

Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew has been keeping the smiles of Southlake, TX and the surrounding communities happy and healthy since 1989. Thanks to his dedication to dentistry and continuing education, he has earned Fellowship status in the Academy of General Dentistry, which only about 4% of general dentists in the US and Canada have accomplished. As such, he stays current with the latest dental techniques and technologies to provide his patients state-of-the-art dental care. If you’d like to learn whether direct bonding or porcelain veneers can improve your smile, feel free to contact him via his website or at (817) 481-4888.

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