Bonding and Veneers

If you are feeling self-conscious about your smile or want to make a few minor changes to the appearance of your teeth, ask us about bonding and veneer treatments. Bonding and veneers are wonderful for patients who want to fix small aesthetic blemishes. At Smiles on the Boulevard, we can use these treatments to straighten, brighten, and customize your smile!

What is Bonding?

We use dental bonding to make small adjustments in the appearance of a patient’s teeth. We use bonding to conceal minor chips, cracks, gaps, and stains. The bonding material is made of a strong composite resin. We can customize this material to match the color of your surrounding teeth, so you can enjoy a sleek, inconspicuous treatment.

For this procedure, Dr. Hawkins will begin by slightly texturing the surface of your tooth. This is minimally-invasive and will help the resin bond to your enamel. Once your tooth is ready, she will apply the bonding material, which starts as a malleable putty. After sculpting the putty into the perfect shape, Dr. Hawkins will harden it with a curing light. To finish your treatment, she will make a few final adjustments and polish your tooth. In as little as one hour, you can enjoy a beautiful new look!

What Are Veneers?

Like bonding, we can use veneers to conceal blemishes and improve a tooth’s appearance. Veneers are made from thin sheets of porcelain. Since they are made with such high-quality materials, they often last longer and look more natural than other cosmetic treatments like bonding. We can also use veneers to fix more severe chips, cracks, gaps, and misalignment.

Since veneers are made from porcelain, we will need to order them from a professional dental lab. To begin, Dr. Hawkins will take detailed images of your tooth. She will send all of the necessary information to a professional laboratory where technicians will design and craft your veneer. While you wait, we will place a temporary cover over your tooth. Within 3-4 weeks, your permanent veneer will be ready to install.

Which Option Should I Choose?

Bonding is quick and cost-efficient. This procedure is minimally-invasive and can be completed in as little as one hour. We carefully dye the resin to match the color of your surrounding teeth so you can enjoy beautiful, natural-looking teeth after just one visit.

Porcelain veneers are more durable and natural-looking than bonding treatments. However, they also take longer to make and require more enamel to be removed to achieve a strong fit. During your consultation, Dr. Hawkins will explain the pros and cons of both treatments and help you decide which is best for your smile.

To learn more about bonding and veneer treatments, please call our office today at 740-423-8416 to schedule an appointment.