Bonding and Veneers
Bonding often serves as an effective restoration for small chips and cracks in the teeth. However, for more severe cases of dullness, wear, discoloration, mild chipping, cracking, spacing, or uneven teeth, veneers may be recommended as a solution. In addition to being esthetically pleasing, veneers can also serve a functional purpose by protecting the surface of a damaged tooth. A veneer is a thin porcelain shell that is bonded to the tooth. Veneers are used to change the shape, color, and positioning of the tooth. Once veneers are bonded in place, they are relatively strong and durable; however, care must be taken so as not to damage veneers.
Reasons for Bonding and Veneers
- Chips
- Discoloration
- Wear
- Malformation
- Straighten teeth
How Bonding and Veneers Work
When bonding a tooth, a composite resin, or “tooth colored,” filling material is bonded to the tooth in order to repair the chip or crack and better protect the surrounding tooth structure.
A veneer takes two appointments to restore your tooth. At the first appointment, any decay and any previous restoration is removed from the tooth and it is shaped for the veneer. Then an impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating the permanent veneer. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory to fabricate the veneer. The temporary veneer will be placed on your tooth to protect it between appointments. In the second visit, the temporary veneer is removed and the permanent veneer is cemented in place.
