Lumineers or Dental Crowns?

Tooth bonding is an overlooked cosmetic dentistry procedure that can correct many of the same things other, more expensive restorations can including gaps, misalignment and chipped teeth. The aspect which stands out most about this procedure is its cost, not that it should be the single deciding factor. When compared to Lumineers and even conventional veneers, bonding always prevails in the price department. At most, the treatment will run you several hundred per tooth. It’s impossible to make an informed decision about tooth bonding without considering its advantages and drawbacks relative to other procedures. We have spelled these out in plain terms below.

Defining what you want to get accomplished and in what time frame is essential in choosing the right procedure. For small chips and other minor abnormalities, bonding is more practical choice. It makes little sense to pay $1,000 to restore a single chipped tooth to perfect condition with Lumineers. This is actual not a realistic scenario as an experienced cosmetic dentist will refuse to install a single veneer due to color matching restraints. So, you can realistically up the cost to $2,000. Your dental insurance should cover bonding for the tooth as it isn’t necessarily cosmetic. Good luck getting that to happen with the Lumineers. When it comes to dealing with more profound problems that are extended over larger areas, the veneers make more sense. For instance, tooth discoloration affecting several teeth is best treated with Lumineers. Bonding resin, unlike porcelain, can stain and sooner or later the patient will find him/herself back to square one. The bottom line is that composite bonding is most suitable for small fixes, while veneers for larger problems. As far as treatment length is concerned, bonding can be performed within a single appointment. Veneers require two appointments. During the first, the teeth are prepared for installation. When the Lumineers arrive back from the lab (which can take three or more weeks) they are test fitted and finally installed.

In terms of life longevity, neither veneers nor bonding is a permanent solution. Composite bonding will wear faster, requiring replacement every few years. The better a patient’s oral hygiene and eating habits, the longer the composite resin will remain intact. Lumineers are advertised to last 20 years, but a safer assumption would be ten. After factoring in the cost of maintenance for bonding, you may find that it is the more expensive avenue.

Both procedures can produce excellent results, but the porcelain will retain its luster and color shade far better than the composite resin in the long term. The end outcome is largely in the hands of the cosmetic dentist. Both Lumineers and bonding can be difficult to pull off without sufficient experience. The former are difficult to install due to the limited amount of tooth structure removal which can be performed, and the latter because it’s conducted freehand. Regardless of whichever of these procedures you choose, finding an experienced dentist is of paramount importance. Always choose a cosmetic dentist based on their qualifications and not the price they’re offering. This will ensure satisfaction with the final outcome.

Posted by admin | faq | Thursday 12 February 2009 2:41 pm

Aesthetic Lumineers in Syracuse NY Area

Syracuse is a well-recognized city in the state of New York that boasts a populace of approximately 140,000 people. The city is home to landmarks like The State Tower building and most of its working class is employed by academic institutions. It might be considered one of the coldest cities in the United States as well, receiving 115 inches of snowfall on average per year. Syracuse, like many other parts of the country has a sizeable population of people looking to improve the appearance of their smile. To answer the call of these patients are competent cosmetic dentists with extensive training in outfitting patients with Lumineers and other popular dental restorations.

One such dentist is Dr. Anthony J. Grasso Jr. who operates a Syracuse cosmetic dentistry practice that caters to patients with diverse needs. Not only does Dr. Grasso’s office perform general dentistry work like root canals and fillings, but also more complex periodontal and restorative work. Under his “services” page, Dr. Grasso has porcelain veneers listed, accompanied by a concise explanation of what conditions make them the most suitable for of treatment. Typically, porcelain veneers and Lumineers are reserved for patients with severe tooth discoloration, chipping, gaps, etc. where removal of the tooth structure is not a primary concern. As mentioned on the page, whenever veneers can be used in lieu of crowns such should be done. Since crowns require even more extensive modification of the tooth structure, are more costly, and can be expensive to replace, they are to be used only when the underlying tooth needs to be solidified. According to Dr. Grasso’s website, patients can opt to get interest-free financing for the first twelve months. The practice works with Citigroup’s healthcare finance wing to provide patients a convenient means to pay for the dental work.

Another Lumineers in Syracuse provider is Dr. Scott Powers, DDS. Dr. Powers has been in business for 26 years, and is a member of not only the ADA, but several local dental organizations. In his commitment to provide patients with the latest in treatment technology, Dr. Powers embraces ongoing education. His office is outfitted with exciting and cutting edge devices to help patients feel more at ease and less anxiety-ridden during their visit. According to his site, Dr. Powers outfits Lumineers on patients who desire a picture perfect smile with the least amounts of inconvenience. This office, like most others, can install the veneers in as little as two visits. The most time-intensive part of the process is generally the fabrication of the veneers themselves. Impressions of the prepared teeth need to be sent to the manufacturer of the veneers to be fabricated out of the special Cerinate porcelain. Dr. Powers is so confident in this product that he lists the expected life longevity of Lumineers are predicted by the manufacturer – about 20 years.

There are many other cosmetic dentists that offer Lumineers in Syracuse that you can uncover with a little research. Any cosmetic dentist that is accredited by a reputable body like the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is a worthwhile candidate pending an initial consultation.

Posted by admin | local dentists | Sunday 18 January 2009 3:20 pm
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