What You Need To Know About A Smile Makeover With Crowns, Veneers And Dental Bonding
Everyone desires a beautiful smile, and thanks to all the advances in cosmetic dentistry, you can get a smile makeover. Some of the most common procedures in a smile makeover include crowns, veneers and dental bonding. If you are interested in getting the smile you desire, learn a bit about these three popular procedures.
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain dental crowns can give you a perfect Hollywood smile because they can correct many cosmetic dental problems, such as gapping, crowding and discoloration. Plus, they are resistant to stains, so they stay white. However, crowns aren't just about making your smile look flawless. Crowns can actually strengthen weak teeth. Even if your teeth are brittle from lots of decay, big fillings or root canals, porcelain crowns can prevent them from shattering. Porcelain crowns can be all-porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal. All-porcelain look better, but aren't as strong, making them good for front teeth.
To place a porcelain crown, your dentist must permanently alter your teeth by filing away most of the outer surface. This makes crowns an irreversible process because without the protective crown, your tooth is exposed. Although your tooth is mostly protected by the crown, if your gums recede, decay can form along the gum line. The process to remove the outer tooth structure can also damage the pulp, leading to an infection, which must be treated with root canal therapy.
Who should consider porcelain crowns: Porcelain crowns are a good idea if you want to improve the appearance of all your teeth, especially if you have particularly weak teeth from decay or fillings.
How much do they cost: Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns cost about $500 to $1,500 per tooth, and all-porcelain crowns cost about $800 to $3,000.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are similar to crowns, but they are only designed to cover the front of your teeth, and they are only placed on your front teeth. Like porcelain crowns, they can fix a wide variety of cosmetic concerns, such as cracks in the enamel and uneven teeth. They do require some portion of your tooth to be removed but not as much as crowns require.
While porcelain crowns may provide your teeth with a little extra strength, they are only a good option for mostly healthy teeth with little decay and small fillings. They cannot be placed on back teeth, and they aren't as strong as crowns. If the tooth doesn't have much enamel, the veneer may not bond property.
Who should consider porcelain veneers: If you want perfectly straight white front teeth, and your front teeth are already mostly healthy, porcelain veneers are an excellent choice.
How much do they cost: Porcelain veneers cost about $925 to $2,500 per tooth.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a great way to fix many dental concerns without spending a fortune. It is significantly cheaper than crowns and veneers, but it can fix all the same cosmetic issues. It can also be used to fix minor problems, such as a chipped tooth. In some cases, your dentist may not need to remove any enamel to place the bonding, making it a possibly reversible condition. Dental bonding is also a fast fix because it can be done in the office.
The resin used in dental bonding is somewhat stain-resistant, but it isn't as stain-resistant as porcelain, so it may become discolored overtime. It also isn't as strong as porcelain, making it a poor choice to strengthen teeth. The resin is white, but it doesn't have the same translucent look that porcelain has.
Who should consider dental bonding: Dental bonding is a great option if you want veneers but can't afford them. They are also a good idea if you have minor cosmetic concerns, such as one chipped tooth or metal fillings.
How much does it cost: Dental bonding cost about $300 to $600 per tooth.
There's no reason you have to accept the smile with which you were born. Any of these procedures can fix almost every cosmetic dental concern you have. For more information about a smile makeover, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area today.