NON-PREP VENEERS (LUMINEERS, VIVANEERS)

Non-prep veneers are porcelain veneers that offer the painless way to a permanently whiter and perfectly aligned smile. These are contact lens-thin and are placed over existing teeth without having to remove tooth structure (unlike traditional veneers.) They are applied to teeth without any grinding or shaving. Non-prep veneers can even be placed over existing crown or bridgework without having to replace them. With such types of veneers your smile is completely reversible since your natural tooth structure remains intact.

 

VENEERS (CONVENTIONAL)

Dental veneers are custom-designed shells of tooth-like ceramic material that, when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing, and chips or cracks. The two most common materials used in the manufacture of dental veneers are composite resin (conventional veneers) and porcelain veneers (lumineers).

 

BONDING

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied and hardened with a special light . Dental bonding is an option that can be considered:

• To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)

• To repair chipped or cracked teeth

• To improve the appearance of discolored teeth

• To close spaces between teeth

• To make teeth look longer

• To change the shape of teeth

• As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings

• To protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed when gums recede

 

WHITENING ("BLEACHING")

There are both in-office and at-home whitening options available. Most whitening products use the same whitening agent, carbamide peroxide, though the concentrations will vary, depending on the process and product used.

In-office procedures use stronger whitening agents and/or a light source to speed up the whitening process. The at-home option generally takes several days to a couple of weeks to complete, allowing for a slower, more gradual shade change.

The easiest stains to remove are also the most common. These are the result of external factors, such as drinking coffee or tea, and smoking. Also, teeth tend to get slightly more yellow as we age because of changes that occur within the dentin (the layer under the enamel) that can be seen through the enamel. Whitening is most effective and generally quite successful on these types of stains.