Cosmetic dental work?

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M

Minimalist_Chic

Member
May 3, 2020
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#1
Anyone had any of the following done to improve your smile?

  1. Composite bonding or composite edge
  2. Composite vaneers
  3. Porcelain vaneers

Anything else?

My dentist has given me the above three options I can choose from to improve my smile. Would love to know what you went with and why, upkeep, pleased with it years after or would make a different decision. Any experiences please do share.
 
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#3
I’m currently doing Invisalign and set to do 4 frontal porcelain veneers and gum contouring as soon as my treatment ends, which is about 4-ish months from now. Personally, I would not go for bonding, especially if any part of your concern is on the front teeth. Bonding chips off very easily there and stains easier than veneers as well. In addition, bonding requires prep and filing just like a veneer might, so that the bonding can adhere to the tooth properly. Each time it chips, a little more gentle filing will have to be one to redo the bonding. To my knowledge, veneers (specifically porcelain) are much more durable and probably the most stain resistant, natural looking option available today.
 
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#5
I can only speak to bonding and porcelain veneers. Before my daughter reached the age of 16, she used bonding to perfect her smile. Once her face matured, Dr. Bill Dorfman gave her permanent porcelain veneers.

Bonding was a pain because we had to have them repaired often. They chipped a couple of times and fortunately Dr. Dorfman repaired them “gratis” as our family dentist and as part of his warranty.

My daughter and I have porcelain veneers. We are delighted with the results. I would recommend them 100% if you were to get them done by Dr. Dorfman.

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Award-winning Los Angeles dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman, DDS is the premier cosmetic dentist for Hollywood's biggest stars. Contact him today!
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#7
I had an appointment yesterday with well known Scottsdale dentist who only does cosmetic dentistry and was pitched traditional veneers. He put some resin composite on so I could see what it could look like, I was very impressed. I was only going to do uppers but am now leaning to top and bottom. Expensive!

Right now I am waiting for an appt with a guy who is known for no prep veneers. He’s 23 minutes late so far, after delaying my appt an hour in advance. Not impressed.
 
#8
I went with composite veneers a few years back to fix up a couple of chipped teeth and even out some of my edges. The main reason I picked composite over porcelain was cost (composite was a lot more affordable), and my dentist said it’d be easier to repair if I chipped it again, which was honestly a concern for me.

Pros: The process was super quick, like one appointment, and I really liked the result initially. My smile looked more even and polished, and it definitely boosted my confidence for a few years.

Cons: Composite does stain over time. I drink a lot of coffee and tea, so even with upkeep and regular cleanings, it started to lose that initial brightness. After a few years, the veneers also started to wear down a bit, which I think is normal with composite. I’m probably going to get them redone soon or even upgrade to porcelain for something longer-lasting.

From what I’ve heard, porcelain veneers look more natural and last way longer but come with a bigger price tag and are harder to replace or repair. So, I’d say if you’re not sure or just want to “test out” a new smile, composite could be a good starting point. But if you want something more permanent and can invest, porcelain might be the way to go.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you want more details on upkeep or anything.
 
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