How Can I Get a Prettier Smile Without Braces?

When it comes to enjoying a truly beautiful smile with straight, aligned teeth, braces are just one option. Veneers and composite bonding offer alternatives that can help your teeth look straighter and give you the beautiful, picture-perfect smile you want without the hassle of braces or aligners.

At Dr Taylor’s Family Dental Center, Marvin Taylor, DDS, offers the broadest array of cosmetic dentistry options, including both porcelain veneers and composite bonding, helping patients get the look of straighter teeth without the need for orthodontic treatment. Here’s how these two options can help you enjoy the cosmetic benefits of orthodontic treatment without the long-term commitment.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are restorations applied to the front surfaces of your visible teeth. Tinted and shaped to blend in with your natural smile, veneers are ideal for helping your teeth appear straighter and addressing many spacing issues, like gaps between teeth.

Veneers are made of durable, beautiful porcelain that reflects light like your natural teeth. Each veneer is created in a lab using the most advanced techniques for truly natural-looking results.

Before applying the veneer, Dr. Taylor removes a small amount of tooth enamel to make room for the veneer. Then he takes an impression of your teeth and sends the impression to the lab that makes your veneer. You return to our office for a second visit when we apply your finished veneer, adjusting and polishing it to perfection.

Once in place, your veneer can last for 10-30 years with good care, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups. Veneers are practically impervious to stains and to teeth whitening treatments, too. Having your teeth professionally whitened first helps ensure your veneer matches your teeth when they look their absolute best.

Composite bonding

Composite bonding addresses many of the same concerns as veneers, including helping crooked or misaligned teeth look straight, healthy, and attractive. Still, there are some important differences between these two options.

Composite bonding is made of a special resin material that can be tinted and shaped to blend in with the rest of your smile, just like veneers. But while veneers are created in a lab, composite bonding is performed right in our office in just one visit.

The bonding material is mixed to create the ideal shade, then carefully applied to the prepared tooth surface. Dr. Taylor expertly shapes and polishes it, correcting the appearance of crooked teeth and addressing other issues, too, like gaps, deep stains, or uneven tooth edges.

Bonding material is applied directly to the tooth surface without the need to remove tooth material first. As such, it’s completely reversible and noninvasive. However, the composite material is less durable than porcelain, which means bonding tends to need to be replaced more frequently — typically between 3-10 years — and it’s also more prone to chipping and stains.

Get the smile you want

Veneers and cosmetic bonding can be ideal solutions for anyone who wants to correct the appearance of crooked teeth, giving you a more beautiful smile and a big boost in your confidence, too. 

To learn more about these and other cosmetic options that can give you the smile of your dreams, call 248-681-8100 or request an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, today. We’re open 7 days a week.