Welcome to Lancaster Smile, your premier destination for top-quality cosmetic dental care in the UK. As a caring and professional dental practice, we take pride in delivering exceptional results for our patients. This page is designed to provide you with comprehensive information about innovative cosmetic dentistry procedures. With our luxurious practice and elegant and professional approach, we are committed to ensuring that you receive the highest standards of dental care you expect, all while being affordable. Read on to discover how our track record of outstanding results and extensive portfolio showcase our expertise in composite bonding, Invisalign and Veneers. Composite bonding is a procedure that can transform your smile into a work of art. Trust us for all your dental needs, and experience the Lancaster Smile difference.
What is Composite Bonding?
Composite bonding is the process of applying tooth coloured filling material to the surface of the teeth to change the overall shape, size and colour of the tooth.
Composite edge bonding is where composite is added to the edges of the tooth to make them look more uniform and repair small chips or imperfections of the teeth
What are Traditional Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are laboratory made thin layered shells of porcelain which are applied to the teeth.
They can be used to alter the shapes, colour and appearance of teeth and close gaps between teeth as required. Furthermore in situations where tooth straightening is not possible or undesirable, tooth adjustments can be made to accommodate minor alignment discrepancies for the perfect smile.
Situations where composite bonding is suitable:
They can be used to alter the shapes, colour and appearance of teeth and close gaps between teeth as required. Furthermore in situations where tooth straightening is not possible or undesirable, tooth adjustments can be made to accommodate minor alignment discrepancies for the perfect smile.
- Chipped tooth
- Cracks
- Stains
- General wear
- To improve aesthetic appearance of tooth/smile
The main benefits are:
- No needles / Injections
- No drilling of the natural tooth structure
- Same day result
- More cost effective than traditional porcelain veneers
The main downside is:
- Not as durable and long lasting as traditional porcelain veneers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Veneers Chip?
Composite bonded veneers are able to chip. There are hundreds of reasons why this may occur, but the most common reasons are eating unsuitable foods, chewing or biting hard substances through habit, trauma, grinding at night and natural movement of teeth.
Although traditional porcelain veneers may chip, they are much less susceptible to chipping than composite bonded veneers.
Do your teeth have to be straight first before composite bonding?
This all depends on the size of the gaps or misalignment. We would always recommend straightening before the bonding as it helps. Slight minor misalignments can be masked with composite.
Composite bonding or porcelain veneers?
Composite bonding is a single session treatment option which is great to correct smaller imperfections, chips, cracks and minor spacing between the teeth.
Veneers on the other hand are lab made ultra thin sheets of ceramic material which are shaped to fit onto the teeth. They usually require some removal of natural tooth structure to create enough space for the veneer to attach to the tooth. They are normally recommended for larger imperfections of the teeth and as they are lab made, are more costly than composite bonding.
Is there a minimum number of teeth recommended?
There is no minimum recommendation for this. In order to gain optimal aesthetic results we simply ask the patient to smile, to see how many teeth are visible. Even then, not all of those teeth on show may need cosmetic treatment. We typically treat between 4 and 8 teeth at a time. This allows for a more uniform and symmetrical smile. However, if you only need 1, that’s all we’ll recommend!
How long do composite veneers last?
As with most cosmetic dental procedures they will eventually need replacing. Typically we see good results of up to 5 to 7 years composite bonding, dependent upon care and 8 to 10 years for traditional lab made veneers
Will my teeth need to be drilled?
In most cases composite is applied with no obvious drilling to the natural tooth. For cases that require tooth adjustment, you will be advised beforehand in the consultation appointment
How many visits are needed?
The composites themselves are done in one appointment. We will always book a consultation appointment first. Most people will have a review appointment after to ensure they are completely happy.
What is the composite bonding procedure
The tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned and then prepared with a gel that roughens the surface microscopically. The putty like composite resin material is then applied using special instruments and brushes to sculpt to the desired shape and shade, often in several layers. Using a special light, the material is then hardened. Further layers can then be added accordingly. The procedure is then completed with smoothing of the tooth surface and polishing.