This is the continuation of our blog series on the topic of cosmetic dentistry. You can read our previous blog here.
Bonding
Bonding uses a durable plastic resin substance that is constructed to fix issues like gap teeth, chips or cracks, cavities, exposed roots, and any other aesthetic purposes. After the material has been matched to the color of the patients’ teeth, the dentist may administer a conditioning liquid on the teeth that are being repaired. At that point, the resin is fixed to the teeth and modeled to fashion the preferred appearance. A special type of light hardens the resin, and then it is trimmed and polished to make the resin flush with the original tooth.
Dental bonding is a fairly easy process that typically takes about a half hour to an hour to complete. Additionally, unlike crowns and veneers, the bonding material will not need to be sent to a laboratory, making it a less expensive cosmetic dental method for patients. Sadly, the bonding ingredient isn’t as durable as veneers or crowns, and the recipient must be careful as the bonding component might chip and become damaged.
Onlays & Inlays
Onlays and inlays are fillings which can be used as potential alternatives to crowns. Known also as indirect fillings, onlays and inlays are created for teeth with damage or decay, and they are regularly created from composite materials, porcelain, and sometimes gold. Gold inlays are the most long-lasting (and expensive) kind of filling, the American Dental Association reports. Gold inlays can last more than two decades with proper dental hygiene.
An inlay is a filling that is made to fill the depressions in the center of the tooth. After a numbing agent has been provided to the individual, the dentist eliminates the tooth decay. Similar to veneers and crowns, the dentist will then design an impression of the area and send it away to a dental laboratory where the inlay will be manufactured. Usually, the inlays will be made of porcelain or composite resin and will fit the shape of the patient’s natural teeth.
Should the damage to a tooth be on the tip, an onlay can be used to rectify the issue. The procedure for an onlay is roughly identical to the one for an inlay. The dentist cleans the contaminated part of the tooth and crafts a mold that is sent away to the laboratory. After that, the tooth is matched with a temporary onlay until the long-term one arrives.
Keep an eye out for the conclusion of our series on cosmetic dentistry. While you wait, you can visit us on social media, and click here if you need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kinn.
