Composites, Crowns and Veneers, Oh My!
Delving into the world of “cosmetic” dentistry can be more than a little confusing. In fact, you may start feeling like Dorothy trying to find her way out of Oz. So let’s take a stroll down the yellow brick road of cosmetic dentistry together so you can avoid any dental flying monkeys.
Composite Bondings
Material: resin based with fillers and pigments, porous
Process: usually chairside in 1 appointment. Occasionally, your dentist will take an impression and fabricate a guide with the lab to help guide the esthetics of a large, cosmetic case. Generally, anterior bonding is done “freehand” by your dentist. Composite bonding comes out as a play-doh consistency that can be shaped as wanted, and then a blue light is used to harden it in place.
Longevity: 5-10 years.
Pros: mostly cost, less treatment time since composite bondings don’t require lengthy lab time, little to no tooth structure removed
Cons: higher likelihood of staining and chipping due to porous nature of material and less strength than crown or veneer material. Less life-like due to less control over color and translucency. Composites tend to dull or lose their shine over time and need to be “buffed.”
Cost: $
Veneers
Material: usually lithium disilicate (a type of glass/ceramic)
Process: Usually 3 appointments. First appointment, impressions are taken of your teeth so that a mock-up of the final result can be made at the lab. Second appointment, the teeth are prepared for the veneers and you leave the appointment with temporary veneers spot bonded in place. This serves as a great guide for how the final result will look and is a good time to make any adjustments to the shape, size, length, etc of the teeth before the final veneers are made. Third appointment, delivery of permanent veneers where they are bonded or cemented into place.
Longevity: 10-20 years
Pros: minimal tooth structure removed, esthetics
Cons: not all teeth are candidates for veneers. For a case to be a good candidate for veneers they have to be relatively cavity and filling free. Veneers are really only changing the face of the teeth, so there is not as much control over changing the bite as with a crown.
Cost: $$-$$$
Crowns
Material: lithium disilcate, zirconia (there are also porcelain fused to metal and full gold, but they are infrequently used at this point)
Process: Same as with veneers
Longevity: 10-20 years
Pros: maximum control over color, translucency, bite and tooth position
Cons: more tooth removal for the preparation of a crown
Cost: $$-$$$
All three of these are great treatment options that can help you achieve your #smilegoals and have you glowing like you just took a long vacation to somewhere over the rainbow.
But remember: all dental work requires maintenance and the most important think you can do is discuss options with your dentist openly. Once they know what you want to change, they can tell you how that change will be achieved. Don’t let your dentist be the man behind the curtain. Fling that curtain open wide and click your heels to a happy smile!