Most of us believe that the characteristics of a beautiful smile includes bright, white, and straight teeth. Even if you don’t feel that your own smile fits that description, there are several dentists in the Augusta area who can turn things around for you. In fact, with dental bonding, dental crowns, and porcelain veneers, your dream smile can be easier, faster and more affordable than you thought. Cosmetic dental treatments are perfect when your goal is to repair stained, cracked or chipped teeth. However, these procedures are also ideal for patients who simply want to enhance the natural characteristics of healthy teeth, too.

You can turn an average smile into a brilliant one with dental bonding, dental crowns and veneers, but these three cosmetic procedures are different in a number of ways. Generally speaking, bonding is considered to be a less expensive, short-term alternative to dental crowns and dental veneers.

Many dentists would tend to limit dental bonding to small cosmetic changes or temporary corrections of minor cosmetic flaws on teeth that endure minimal bite pressure (such as the front teeth). Dental bonding is performed in the dental chair during a single appointment.

Porcelain veneers and dental crowns, on the other hand, are usually custom-made in a dental laboratory and require at least 2 visits to complete. Fortunately, many dental offices now offer same-day dental crowns and veneers that are designed, milled, and cemented on while you wait.

The resin material that is used for dental bonding is minimally stain-resistant, but the porcelain and ceramics that are used for dental crowns and veneers are known to resist stains much better. In terms of durability, bonded teeth are more vulnerable to chipping or breaking than ceramic dental crowns or dental veneers. Still, any dental restoration is subject to damage if they are not cared for properly. Whether you have opted for bonding, crowns, or veneers, it’s wise to refrain from chewing on pencils, ice, or fingernails.

To find out if you are a candidate for bonding, crowns, veneers, or other cosmetic dentistry procedures, contact a dentist in the Augusta area today.