When it comes to smile makeovers, many people instantly think of dental veneers — which can quickly conceal a multitude of dental imperfections for a flawless smile.

But fixing minor imperfections, like chips in your teeth or mild discoloration, can also have a huge impact on your appearance. And, it can be done easily with a process called tooth bonding.

If you’re looking to perfect your smile, continue reading to learn more about the difference between these two procedures. Then, consult with the experts at Houston Uptown Dentists in Houston, TX! We’ll listen carefully to the items on your smile wishlist and help you figure out the best way to achieve them.

Give us a call at 832-463-1021 to schedule a consultation!

Tooth Bonding: A Quick and Comfortable Solution

If you’re looking to quickly remedy unsightly chips or cracks in your teeth, tooth bonding is one of the easiest ways to do it.

It involves using a tooth-colored resin to conceal dental imperfections, such as:

  • Chips
  • Minor cracks
  • Stains or discoloration
  • Short teeth
  • Misshapen teeth
  • Small gaps in your smile

It’s an easy procedure, and many cases, it can be completed in less than an hour!

When you come into Houston Uptown Dentists for a tooth bonding procedure, we’ll first prepare the tooth or teeth you want to fix. This sometimes includes a dental cleaning before the bonding procedure. Then, we’ll etch the surface of your tooth or teeth to encourage the resin to securely attach.

After that, we’ll apply the tooth-colored resin, which we customize to the color of your natural teeth. We’ll shape the resin for a flawless look and then harden it with a special light before making final adjustments.

Dental Veneers: A Hollywood Favorite

If you’ve ever wondered how your favorite red-carpet celebrities got such a flawless smile, it’s likely dental veneers.

Dental veneers can be used to fix many of the same dental imperfections as tooth bonding.

This include:

  • Minor cracks
  • Chips
  • Stains or discoloration
  • Worn teeth
  • Small gaps between your teeth

But because veneers cover the entire tooth, they’re commonly used to address a series of flaws or more major cosmetic problems.

At Houston Uptown Dentists, we offer both all-porcelain dental veneers and Lumineers. Both are thin but tough shells that will restore a healthy and beautiful appearance to your teeth.

Porcelain dental veneers offer the most coverage but also require more preparation than Lumineers. Lumineers are thinner than all-porcelain veneers, roughly the thickness of a contact lens.

When it comes to getting dental veneers, the first step is to prepare the tooth or teeth. In some cases, this involves removing some of the enamel. This is usually a painless procedure since enamel has no nerve endings, but this makes getting dental veneers in many cases an irreversible procedure.

We’ll take an impression of your mouth, and send the model to a dental laboratory, which will custom-make your veneers. This can sometimes take a few weeks.

Then, you’ll come in to have your dental veneers placed. We’ll first ensure that the veneers both fit well and look great. We may make some small adjustments if necessary. Then, we’ll bond them to your teeth.

You’ll leave with a smile you’re excited to share with the world!

What’s The Difference?

Unlike with some forms dental veneers, tooth bonding is a reversible procedure, since no part of the tooth is removed to accommodate the resin.

However, tooth bonding doesn’t last as long as dental veneers — which can last decades without needing to be replaced — and it’s less resistant to stains.

Though both dental veneers and tooth bonding are primarily cosmetic procedures, they both can have some restorative dentistry benefits since they help strengthen your teeth

When you’re trying to decide which is the best course of treatment for you, it depends on what you hope to accomplish, as well as your preferences.

Luckily, you don’t have to make the decision alone! The knowledgeable staff at Houston Uptown Dentists can walk you through the pros and cons of each option. We’re passionate about helping our patients achieve the smiles of their dreams, and we’ll do the same for you!

Give Us A Call Today!

If you’re ready to say goodbye to the dental imperfections that make you self-conscious, call Dr. Juarez and Dr. Lindskog at Houston Uptown Dentists. We offer a variety of cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry procedures at our Houston, TX office.

Let us give you a reason to smile! Call us at 832-463-1021, or use our convenient online form.