Choosing the cosmetic procedure that is right for you depends upon your circumstances. Your Rochester MN cosmetic dentist, Dr. Gilly Calcagno, therefore, recommends that you attend a consultation, during which you can discuss your smile goals with her. The information that you share during this valuable appointment will prove instrumental in determining the treatment path that is right for you. To illustrate just how important a consultation can be, the following paragraphs illuminate the vast differences between two common treatments that tackle very similar cosmetic concerns.
Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding
Porcelain veneers and dental bonding may both improve cosmetic blights such as pitted teeth, gapped, chipped teeth, and intrinsically stained teeth. However, the approaches that they take and the results they produce are very different. Dental bonding features a composite resin material, the same substance used in white dental fillings. Dr. Calcagno will apply the resin in a putty-like form to your tooth or teeth and form it into the desired shape. She will then harden the resin with a curing light so that it will become durable.
Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are thin shells of porcelain that are designed to look like natural teeth. Dr. Calcagno will attach the veneers to your teeth to hide any imperfections behind a beautiful new smile. In order to do so, however, Dr. Calcagno will have to prepare your teeth to receive the veneers. Tooth preparation requires small amounts of enamel to be removed from teeth to account for the thickness of the veneers. Once the veneers are bonded in place, the smile transformation will be complete.
After reading these overviews of the two procedures, you may think bonding and veneers to be very similar. However, bonding is more affordable than veneers but considerably less durable. Porcelain veneers are also widely considered to offer superior cosmetic results owing to the ability of the dental porcelain to mimic the reflective quality and translucence of natural teeth. These characteristics give porcelain veneers a natural sheen that makes them nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth. However, some patients are hesitant to choose porcelain veneers because of trepidation about tooth preparation.
Choosing between dental bonding and porcelain veneers, then, is no easy task. Much of the decision depends upon your smile goals and your budget. A cosmetic consultation with Dr. Calcagno can help you sort out what works best for your individual case, allowing you to get exactly what you want out of your smile transformation.
About Dr. Gilly Calcagno: Dr. Gilly Calcagno is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Minnesota Dental Association, and is active in local dental implant study clubs. To schedule a consultation, call Calcagno Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry today at (507) 281-3659.
