Whitening & Veneers
Teeth Whitening
Professional in-office teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure. Unlike home-use systems that incorporate low-dose bleaching agents, in-office whitening takes place under carefully monitored conditions which allow for the safe, controlled, pain-free use of a relatively high concentration of bleaching gel which yield results that are visible immediately. When professionally done, teeth whitening cuts back on teeth sensitivity and can target stains.
Professional teeth whitening leaves all the responsibility in the hands of the dentist. This means that you can sit back and relax during the procedure. At the end of your appointment, you’ll leave the office with bright, pearly whites.
Porcelain and Composite Veneers
Dental veneers may be the perfect option if you have chipped, stained, gappy or misaligned teeth. The thin laminate shells are shaped and contoured to precisely cover the aesthetic flaws in your smile. Dental veneers may be fabricated from two types of tooth-colored materials: porcelain and composite resin.
Porcelain Veneers – Have a strong advantage in terms of durability. Once bonded to your existing teeth, porcelain veneers hold tightly to your healthy tooth structure to create a solid restoration that can last for many years with proper care and regular dental check-ups. Although porcelain veneers cost significantly more than composite veneers, not only do they last longer, they generally produce more predictable and aesthetic looking results as compared to teeth laminates made with composite resin.
Composite Veneers – A tooth-colored filling material, which is matched with your natural tooth shade, is applied in layers to the tooth surface and sculpted directly in your mouth to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance. Composite veneers can cover chips in the teeth, and discoloration. They are also used where there are minor misalignments of teeth, to give the appearance of straighter teeth.
Composite Veneers vs Porcelain
- Porcelain veneers resist staining from cigarette smoking, tea, coffee, red wine, and other dark or richly colored liquids. Composite veneers can discolor and stain over time. Although with modern materials this is minimal.
- Porcelain veneers cannot be repaired. If they break porcelain veneers must be replaced. Composite veneers can be repaired by your dentist in one visit.
- Porcelain veneers are durable and can last for many years if you take good care of them using a good oral hygiene home care routine. Composite veneers will need to be refreshed or replaced more frequently, as the resin material used is not as strong as porcelain.
- Porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite veneers. They require molds and a dental laboratory to make them. Composite veneers are applied in the office directly onto your teeth.
- Porcelain veneers are made in a dental laboratory and therefore require at least two visits to prepare and fit the veneers. Composite resin veneers are accomplished in one visit and are made chair side by a dentist.
- Porcelain Veneers require removal of some of the tooth surface which is irreversible. Composite veneers bond directly on to the tooth surface and are therefore not damaging or destructive to the tooth at all.
