Having a smile that you love can change your life. When you smile more, people often perceive you as being friendlier and more open — and that can increase professional and social interactions and opportunities. You feel more confident when you’re proud of your smile, too.
Dr. Hannah Baek and her staff at Healthy Smile Dental in Woodridge, Illinois, want you to smile more and to feel better about how you look when you do. That’s why we offer cosmetic procedures such as dental bonding and veneers to address tooth imperfections. We describe these two popular treatments here so you can understand the differences if you’re considering a smile improvement.
Dental bonding is a way of masking flaws with composite resin. Dr. Baek matches the color of the resin to the color of your teeth precisely. She then applies the resin directly to your teeth, covering any discoloration, chips, or uneven areas on the surface of your teeth.
The resin and bonding agent are safe, and Dr. Baek is an expert in perfectly sculpting and polishing the resin to create exactly the look you want.
Dental bonding is a great choice when you have minor tooth flaws that bother you.
Getting veneers is a bit different compared to dental bonding. A veneer is a thin, shell-like covering that adheres to the front surfaces of your teeth. Veneers can conceal numerous issues, such as:
They’re made of porcelain, which reflects light similarly to natural enamel.
Veneers are better in situations where you’re seeking a more comprehensive smile makeover. They’re stain resistant and quite durable. Veneers last a long time and look very much like your natural teeth.
Because veneers last many years, they’re a good investment. You won’t need to worry about extra appointments to maintain them, and can feel completely confident in your smile.
Unlike bonding, which Dr. Baek can complete in one visit, you need multiple appointments when you get veneers. In order for the porcelain shells to fit properly on your teeth, Dr. Baek removes just enough enamel to allow your veneers to fit in perfectly with your surrounding teeth.
Dr. Baek needs an impression of your prepared teeth so a dental lab can fabricate each veneer to match your mouth. When the lab completes the veneers and sends them to us, you need another appointment to have Dr. Baek attach them permanently with a dental cement.
As you consider cosmetic changes to your smile, it’s important to work with a provider you trust. If you’re choosing between dental bonding or veneers, schedule an appointment with Dr. Baek, who takes into account your oral health, particular smile flaws, and your ultimate goals. The Healthy Smile Dental team can help you get the smile you’ve always wanted.
