Bonding Breakdown? Time for Ceramic Veneers

Fig. 1

How we perceive our smile and appearance affects our self-esteem, our moods and how we function in social and business relationships. Common conditions that impact negatively on your smile include broken, cracked or worn teeth, discolored teeth, missing teeth, crooked teeth, decayed teeth, gaps between your teeth and/or "gummy smiles." Each patient and each specific circumstance must be evaluated on its own merits. Factors such as occlusion [bite], oral habits, available space, health of the gum tissue, severity of the problem and patient expectation must be taken into consideration while planning your cosmetic makeover. While in many circumstances bonding teeth with resin composites has its advantages, the resin materials are not as long lasting as ceramic materials. Porcelains won't darken and their surface doesn't wear like acrylic resins might.

Fig. 2

If there have been cracks, chips or discolorations in your composite restorations, they need to be redone or replaced with ceramic restorations. When possible using porcelain veneers that are bonded to the teeth are less invasive than ceramic crowns that necessitate the removal of greater amounts of tooth structure. This person chose to have a combination of porcelain veneers along with a bleaching [tooth whitening] procedure for the other teeth. Call our office if you think you're a candidate for this type of procedure.