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For decades now, dental laminates have been the number one go-to solution for Bellaire cosmetic dentists when patients suffer from deep tooth staining that won’t be erased by any professional cleansing or bleaching techniques. Although such professional tooth whitening procedures are invariably more effective than over-the-counter systems, surface cleansing and bleaching only works on surface stains, such as those caused by habitual consumption of nicotine or coffee. For discolorations resulting from medication, decay, tooth trauma or natural aging, surface treatments won’t have much impact because in these cases the entire structure of the tooth is discolored or damaged. Instead, the best solution is to actually cover the tooth surface with a new one- and this is where dental laminates come in. Dental laminates cover the outer surfaces of your teeth with a very thin shell of custom shaped and colored porcelain. Porcelain is highly valued as a dental material because it’s translucence when hit with light gives it a near identical appearance to natural tooth enamel. Currently, dental laminates come in two styles- porcelain veneers and porcelain lumineers. As the original dental laminates, veneers have a long standing fan base, among both dentists and patients, and because they actually cover the tooth entirely, they have been used for more than just stain coverage. In Bellaire, porcelain veneers have also proven to be a perfect solution for patients who need to close minor gaps between teeth, lengthen or shape teeth for symmetry, or cover cavity or chipping damage. But veneers do have one drawback- because the application and bonding process require extensive shaving away of the original tooth structure, the procedure is time consuming, involves anesthesia, and is absolutely permanent. The search for a less damaging laminate technique is what led to the relatively recent development of lumineers. Lumineers- The New Laminates With custom shaped and colored laminate shells made from the same porcelain as their predecessors dental veneers, the real innovation behind lumineers lies in the application and bonding technique. Unlike the thicker shelled veneers, lumineers require only a mild etching of the original tooth surface during the bonding process. This allows your original teeth to remain intact, always a safer option in terms of dental health, and because the etching can be easily smoothed away, lumineers can be removed at a later time if you decide you want to return your teeth to their original appearance. With visual results that are nearly identical, lumineers are rapidly gaining in popularity. The only drawback to these laminates is that the thinner shells are not as successful at covering up major cavity or chipping damage or gaps between teeth. For patients who have a need for this kind of restorative work, Bellaire cosmetic dentists are still likely to recommend getting coverage from porcelain veneers. Remember decisions of this kind should be a collaboration between you and your dentist, so be sure to choose someone you trust to handle your most memorable feature- that gorgeous smile. For more information about belleair porcelain veneers, largo dentures, and belleair dental implants please visit Largogeneraldentist.com.
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