These are ultra-thin, tooth-colored porcelain or resin layers of laminates that are specially made and bonded to your tooth. Veneers are stronger and have a longer life than bonding, but they are more expensive and take more time. There are porcelain or composite veneers. Composite veneers are made of the same material that is used when teeth are bonded. They are made in a lab, are denser and will therefore not break down as fast as bonding. Composite veneers last longer than bonding but not as long as porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are the ultimate in aesthetic laminates. They will not stain or break down and they will look better and last longer than bonding or composite veneers.

This is a process in which an enamel-like composite material is applied to the tooth’s surface, sculpted by the cosmetic dentist to an ideal shape, hardened with a light and then polished. This procedure can usually be accomplished in a single visit.

If you have large fillings in your front teeth that are black due to decay and too large to be restored by bonding or veneering, you might need all porcelain crowns. These crowns are very aesthetic and are used to restore teeth that are severely broken down and severely worn. Porcelain crowns are made from the same porcelain that is used in veneers, but unlike veneers, porcelain crowns extend all the way around the tooth to cover it.

These new ceramic crowns are so natural looking that you cannot tell that they are not real. They are pure porcelain and they will not stain or discolor at the gumline like porcelain or metal crowns do.

If you have missing teeth and do not want to crown the teeth on either side of the space, then implants are for you.

An endosteal or single tooth implant is made of titanium in the shape of a cylinder and placed directly into the jawbone. It is sometimes coated with material that helps bone adhere to it. Once the implant is placed in the bone, the tissue is sealed over it and it is allowed to heal for four to six months. The top of the implant is then exposed and a crown can be placed directly to the implant or over a post screwed into the implant. Implants placed in the front of the mouth to replace missing teeth can give a very aesthetic result without destroying good teeth on either side of the space.

If you have stained or dull teeth due to smoking, coffee or tea stains, then whitening may be the answer for you.

While both methods have been proven to be effective, the in-office system will entail the greater cost to the patient.