Sometimes, teeth have staining or alignment issues which cannot be resolved by teeth whitening or would be overcorrected by orthodontic treatments, respectively. Gary Relias, DMD can help resolve these needs by providing two different types of cosmetic restoration: porcelain veneers and composite bonding. Composite bonding involves placing layers of composite resin onto a tooth. Porcelain veneers are permanently affixed atop specially prepared teeth.
These procedures both cover teeth to improve their brightness and fix any minor size and alignment issues. However, the resilience and ease of retreatment these products feature differ widely, and knowing these differences can help you decide whether composite bonding or porcelain veneers is the service that Arlington Comfort Dental would provide to you.
Porcelain’s Durability
By the nature of the ways they are placed, these cosmetic dental procedures have different levels of resilience that affect how long they last. Porcelain veneers tend to be the more durable of the two options because porcelain is the stronger of the two materials.
Dental porcelain not only looks like a natural tooth because of its coloration and shine, but it also has a resilience and strength that closely matches those of a natural tooth. Composite resin, as strong and long-lasting as it is for dental fillings, does not have the same level of resilience when serving as a veneer. By contrast, porcelain veneers can last for decades as long as patients maintain proper oral hygiene. Porcelain veneers will best serve patients who want long lasting results without additional dental appointments.
Minimally Invasive Composite Bonding
As durable as porcelain veneers are, however, they can break if patients eat certain foods, teeth suffer trauma, or if bad habits like chewing ice continue. In the event that a cosmetic restoration is damaged or worn out, our Arlington Heights comfort dentist will need to be able to replace the cosmetic restorations.
In terms of ease of replacement, composite bonding has the advantage over porcelain veneers. Because composite bonding is placed over teeth without the need of any extra preparation, the covered teeth remain healthy and able to survive within the smile. This means that additional composite material can simply be placed over teeth to recreate the bonding. By contrast, a tooth has to be permanently shaved down in order to host a porcelain veneer. When a veneer breaks, the tooth usually has to be restored with a porcelain crown in order to survive. Composite bonding is therefore ideal for patients who prefer a minimally invasive approach which can be readily improved at a later time.
Contact Our Practice Today in Arlington Heights, IL
Arlington Comfort Dental provides porcelain veneers, composite bonding, and other cosmetic dental procedures in a comfortable manner to patients in Arlington Heights, Palatine, Buffalo Grove, and the surrounding communities. To schedule your cosmetic dental appointment, call our practice today!