Chair-side Bonded Veneers

A bonded veneer is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured or discolored tooth. Unlike ceramic veneers, which are manufactured in a laboratory, bonded veneers can be completed in a single visit.

How Does It Work?

Dr. Carbone  use a shade guide to select the composite resin color which matches the color of your tooth most closely.

The tooth surface is roughened and etched to prepare it for the bonding material. The tooth is then coated with a resin liquid, after which a composite resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape by the dentist. Once hardened by a curing light, the veneer is trimmed and polished to a natural shape and appearance.

Considerations

Since composite resin is not quite as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is possible to chip a portion of the bonding. If a chip should occur, it is easily repaired. Bonding usually lasts several years before it needs to be repaired. How long it actually lasts depends on how much bonding was done and your oral habits. Biting fingernails, chewing on pens or using your front teeth as tools can chip the material.