Surprisingly, it is only in the last few decades that dentistry has made advances that allow dentists to adhere materials to the tooth surface. In the past it was necessary to cut some type of dovetail into the tooth to lock the material in place. Bonding eliminates the need to cut into the tooth to hold the repair. This opens the door to more conservative esthetic repairs such as veneers. Veneers are porcelain facings that bond over the face of teeth and are used to change size, shape, and/or color. They can be used to repair teeth that have been broken, lengthen worn teeth, close spaces, straighten irregularities, or correct color problems. By replacing just the enamel face of the teeth the remaining tooth stays strong, and the repair looks natural. For optimal esthetics the veneer is often first choice for smile makeovers.

Dr. Jim Hinkle II