Dental Veneers and Dental Bonding: Comparing Restorative Solutions from Our Portsmouth Dental Office

In our Portsmouth cosmetic dentist office, we can restore your teeth using dental veneers and dental bonding. We find that regardless of how hard you try to protect your teeth, there are certain issues you cannot prevent. For example, you cannot prevent your tooth from cracking when you bite into a piece of hard candy. You cannot prevent accidentally chipping your tooth when you play softball at your family reunion. Still, these simple activities often put your teeth at risk for becoming cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged. When this happens, you do not need to worry, but you do need to seek out an immediate dental restoration. The sooner you seek out immediate dental restoration, the better chance you have at not experiencing unnecessary discomfort and decreasing your risk of getting a subsequent infection.

We can immediately help you by restoring your tooth. Two of the solutions we use to do so are dental veneers and dental bonding. Both can achieve similar goals, but the procedures are completely different. With dental veneers, we will be placing a thin porcelain shell on the surface of your teeth. As long as you do not mind that we will need to remove the enamel and require you to wear temporary veneers, this is a good solution. Once the dental veneers are in place, they can give you a gorgeous looking smile for years to come. However, if you need a solution that is good for sensitive teeth or a solution that we can complete quickly, dental bonding is the right solution for you.

The interesting thing about dental bonding is how few people know about it. If you damage a tooth or simply do not like how it looks, dental bonding will help the tooth to look much better. In this procedure, we prepare the teeth by simply roughening them up and by using a moisturizing solution. This means your enamel will remain intact, so the entire procedure is non-invasive and perfect for sensitive teeth. Once the teeth are ready, we will apply the bonding material to the teeth and shape it on the tooth. We will then harden the material in place for a durable and beautiful restoration. This is an excellent solution that looks as good as it feels.

Which one is better, dental veneers or dental bonding?

This is a personal decision that has to be made after we have examined you and taken X-rays. Both solutions work for improving the appearance of your teeth and for correcting any aesthetic issues. If you are on a time crunch or have sensitive teeth, you will greatly benefit from scheduling a bonding appointment. Dental bonding is the only restorative solution that we can complete in one appointment outside of CEREC. Dental veneers, on the other hand, are more durable and are well-respected for creating long-lasting, beautiful smiles. In fact, dental veneers are what most Hollywood stars use to improve their smile. Just remember that this is not a race to the finish line, but solutions with long-term implications. To learn more, call and schedule an appointment with our Portsmouth dental office.

Dental Crowns  >  Dental Veneers

Health Warnings from Your Portsmouth Childrens Dentist

As your Portsmouth childrens dentist, our priority is the health of your children – both now and in the future. We want your children to maintain strong and healthy teeth as they age. While this involves regular trips to our dental office, it also involves taking steps for preventative care at home. When you come into our office, we will show you how to properly brush and floss your childs teeth, discuss foods that are healthy to eat and also discuss things that they need to avoid. It is in that spirit that we issue this health warning:

Avoid Soda. It is Terrible for Your Childrens Teeth

There is no food or drink more dangerous for your childs teeth than soda. A child needs to avoid soda at all costs because it is full of sugar and incredibly acidic. When you look at various drinks, you need to compare their pH levels. Water is neutral, which means that it is entirely healthy for their teeth. Milk is also a good option. However, soda is closer to battery acid than water when it comes to pH levels. It is so acidic, that soda can unclog your drain. Now imagine what it is doing to your childrens teeth.
As children drink soda, the acid content is literally attacking their teeth and causing their enamel to erode. The erosion can lead to tooth sensitivity, making their teeth more susceptible to decay and breakage. If there is one thing you restrict in your childs diet, it should be all types of soda. There is a myth that clear sodas are okay where darker sodas are not. Both are bad for the teeth and children need to avoid them. The same is true for diet soda since it is only slightly better for the teeth than traditional soda. Switch to water and your childs teeth will thank you.

Stay Away from Sour Candy

As your Portsmouth childrens dentist, many of our warnings comes down to the acid levels in what patients eat or drink Sour candy is at the top of our “do not eat” list because it is full of sugar and is also acidic. Just like the acid in soda that can attack your childs teeth, the acid in candy can as well. In combination with sugar that naturally leads to increased plaque, sour candy can be a deadly combination for your childs teeth and lead to numerous cavities.
When you visit our Portsmouth childrens dentist office, we can provide you with a list of foods and drinks to avoid. However, when grocery shopping, the one thing you can remember is to review food and drink in the light of how acidic it is. Anything high in acid content should be avoided, especially when combined with sugar. Instead, buy your children things like apples, nuts, single servings of cheese, and cut vegetables. These are snacks that will fill them up, provide sustained energy and essential nutrients – all while being good for their oral health.

Portsmouth Dentist   >  Dental Fillings