Veneers
Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material and permanently bonded to your teeth. Dr. Khani believes that veneers have a very limited use in dentistry, due to a relatively short useful life in comparison to the high cost. Veneers are best suited to broken or chipped teeth that take no stress. Other treatments are recommended for spaces between teeth, crooked teeth, or discoloration.
Bonding
Bonding is a common solution for:
- Fixing or repairing chipped or cracked teeth
- Reducing unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth
- Hiding discoloration or faded areas on the tooth’s surface
Composite material, a resin, is bonded to an existing tooth. Unlike veneers or crowns, composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth. Bonding has many advantages:
- It is a quick process, which typically takes only minutes.
- It minimally reduces the tooth’s original structure and is relatively inexpensive.
- Composite resins come in many different shades and provide better matching of shades to the natural color of your teeth.
Composite is not as durable and long-lasting as other, more expensive options, and likely will need to be replaced after several years. Composite also stains more easily and therefore requires proper care and regular cleaning. In order to ensure the longest possible duration of the bonding, composites should be brushed and flossed daily. Common staining elements include coffee, tea, and tobacco.