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Should You Get Dental Bonding or Veneers to Transform Your Smile?

A woman flashes a bright smile as a dentist checks her mouth with a mirror and dental tools. The background features a dental clinic banner for advertising purposes.

The choice between dental bonding and porcelain veneers depends on your specific needs, budget, and cosmetic goals. Dental bonding offers a quick, affordable solution for minor imperfections, while veneers provide comprehensive, long-lasting smile transformations for more significant concerns. Both treatments can dramatically improve your smile's appearance when performed by skilled cosmetic dentists.

At Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen, we help Jacksonville patients choose the ideal cosmetic treatment for their unique situation. Our state-of-the-art facility combines Dr. Mullens' uncompromising dedication as an American College of Dentists Fellow with Dr. Nguyen's artistry and precision, ensuring you receive personalized care and exceptional results.

Everything You Should Know About Dental Bonding

Dental bonding involves applying tooth-colored composite resin directly to your teeth to correct minor flaws. This versatile treatment can repair the following:

  • Chips
  • Close small gaps
  • Reshape teeth
  • Cover discoloration

The process typically takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth and can often be completed in a single visit. During bonding, we roughen the tooth surface slightly and apply a conditioning liquid to help the resin adhere properly. The composite material is then carefully shaped and sculpted to achieve the desired appearance. A special light hardens the resin, and final polishing creates a natural-looking finish that blends seamlessly with your surrounding teeth.

Bonding works best for minor cosmetic concerns and smaller teeth in less visible areas. The material can last three to ten years with proper care, making it an excellent option for patients seeking immediate improvement without significant investment.

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells custom-crafted to cover the front surface of your teeth. These versatile restorations can address multiple cosmetic concerns simultaneously, including the following:

  • Severe discoloration
  • Worn teeth
  • Uneven spacing
  • Misaligned smiles

The veneer process typically requires two appointments. During your first visit, we prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel and taking detailed impressions. Our laboratory crafts your custom veneers to match your desired shade and shape perfectly. At your second appointment, we carefully bond the veneers to your teeth using strong dental cement.

Quality porcelain veneers can last 10 to 20 years or more with proper maintenance. The material resists staining better than natural tooth enamel, helping maintain your bright smile over time. Veneers also provide strength and durability comparable to your natural teeth.

Dental Bonding vs Veneers: Which is Better For Your Smile Needs?

Several factors distinguish these two cosmetic dentistry options. 

Cost

Cost represents the most significant difference, as bonding typically costs much less than veneers per tooth. However, veneers often provide better long-term value due to their superior durability and stain resistance.

Treatment Time

Treatment time varies considerably between options. Bonding can usually be completed in one appointment, while veneers require multiple visits over several weeks. Bonding also preserves more of your natural tooth structure, as minimal preparation is needed.

Aesthetic Results

Aesthetic results differ as well. Veneers generally provide more dramatic transformations and maintain their appearance longer. The porcelain material more closely mimics natural tooth characteristics, including translucency and light reflection. Bonding, while effective, may appear less natural over time and requires more frequent maintenance.

Severity of Your Dental Concerns

Consider veneers if you have multiple cosmetic concerns, want long-lasting results, or desire a complete smile makeover. Choose bonding for minor issues, budget constraints, or when you prefer preserving maximum tooth structure. Our team can help evaluate which option best serves your specific needs and goals.

Transform Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry Solutions at Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen

Whether you choose bonding or veneers, selecting an experienced cosmetic dentist ensures optimal results. Our practice combines cutting-edge technology with artistic vision to create beautiful, natural-looking smiles. We offer comprehensive consultations to discuss your options and develop personalized treatment plans.

Our Jacksonville location features advanced technology, including digital dentistry capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment, allowing us to provide precise, comfortable care. We also work with CareCredit and other financing options to make your dream smile affordable. Contact Distinctive Dentistry by Mullens & Nguyen at 904-399-3163 or schedule your consultation to discover how we can transform your smile.

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Something Stuck Between the Teeth

If you have any food debris or an object stuck between your teeth, don’t try to remove it with a toothpick or any sharp objects, as this could damage your gums. Typically, gently flossing around the tooth and rinsing your mouth with saltwater can help dislodge it. However, if you’re not having any luck, you can also give our office a call. Our dental hygienists have all of the necessary tools to safely remove the debris.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Lockjaw, jaw tension, and pain are just a few of the many different types of jaw pain. If your discomfort is chronic, our team can help you determine the underlying cause of it and refer you to a specialist if necessary. However, if your pain is a result of an impact, visit your local emergency room.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Our team is happy to provide you with further guidance over the phone if you’re unsure of where to go for help. You can place an ice pack on the outside of your face to relieve any discomfort.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: If you believe your jaw is broken, dislocated, or damaged due to trauma, visit your local ER immediately. If it’s a reoccurring issue, our team can help you determine best next steps for finding relief after conducting an examination.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?  If your oral injury doesn’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes, you may need to go to the emergency room. Or, if you’re conflicted about what to do, give our office a call and our team can help.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Oral wounds can bleed a lot, and when the blood mixes with the saliva, it can make the injury look a lot worse than it is. You can stop the bleeding by using a clean washcloth or piece of gauze and pressing it against the cut. A cold compress can help to reduce any swelling that may occur.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team typically doesn’t see patients for injuries. If you require stitches or the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 minutes of placing pressure on it, visit your local emergency room.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? If your tooth is wiggling in its socket or partially dislodged, try to get to our office as soon as possible to prevent any further damage. If you’re experiencing pain, our team can provide you with first aid guidance over the phone.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Avoid touching your tooth and eating any foods (especially those that are chewy or sticky), and rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater to remove any debris and cleanse the area. Avoid flossing or brushing your teeth until you’re able to see us.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: If your tooth has become partially dislodged due to impact, our team may be able to salvage it and see if the roots are able to re-fuse with the bone. In the case that your tooth can’t be saved, we may recommend an extraction and replacement with a dental implant or bridge.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Whether your denture has broken to the point of it being unwearable or it just has a crack, you should never wear a damaged prosthetic. It can lead to irritation of the oral tissues in addition to jaw discomfort. If you have existing teeth and try to wear your damaged denture, it could also harm those teeth. Call our office immediately so our team can assess your prosthetic.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Although your local department store likely sells a denture repair kit, do not try to superglue or repair your own dentures. The best option in this scenario is to see a professional as soon as possible.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: Our team will examine your dentures and see if we’re able to repair them. If they’re damaged beyond repair, we can start the process of replacing them for you.

Learn More About Dentures
Learn More About Implant Dentures
Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes, both of these situations warrant an immediate call to our Jacksonville dental office. That way, we can repair or replace your restoration as quickly as possible.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown In addition to reaching out to us to schedule an appointment, we recommend not eating anything crunchy, hard, or sticky. Additionally, keep your restoration somewhere safe, like a small, clean container.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns There are some cases where we can re-cement your restoration back in place, like if your dental crown is relatively new and in good condition. Other times, our only option is to replace your dental crown or filling with a new one.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Since this dental injury can cause a significant amount of pain and there is only a small window of time where we can save your tooth (about 60 minutes), the answer is “yes!” So, don’t hesitate – contact our Jacksonville dental team right away to schedule an emergency appointment.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Calling us is an important first step. This ensures that we can schedule an appointment for you with one of our dedicated emergency dentists right away. Plus, it allows us to guide you through the process of preserving the root of your tooth – whether that’s by placing it back in its socket or putting it in a clean container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Fortunately, a knocked-out tooth can sometimes be saved. If that’s not the case for some reason – like you weren’t able to find your tooth – then we will instead begin the process of replacing it with a dental bridge or implant so the look, health, and function of your smile are restored.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES
LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Very sensitive teeth can be a dental emergency. That’s why it’s important to consider how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms and if they are present in tandem with others, like pain when biting down.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There’s really only one thing you can do until your appointment: try to avoid things that could exacerbate your discomfort. In other words, don’t drink anything really hot, don’t eat anything really cold, and take OTC pain medication as directed on the label (if needed).

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth That depends on what’s causing your dental sensitivity. If it’s a cavity, then it’s likely that a tooth-colored filling or dental crown is the answer. If it’s an infection in your gums, then gum disease treatment is needed instead.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS
LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Cracked teeth are considered dental emergencies and you’ll need to visit your emergency dentist as soon as possible. Leaving your tooth untreated can allow it to be vulnerable to further damage and bacteria. Before the situation worsens, schedule an appointment with our team so we can determine the best way to address your tooth.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Refrain from chewing on that side of your mouth, otherwise you could end up disturbing your injured tooth. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to minimize discomfort. You can also rinse with saltwater to keep your tooth bacteria-free. If you notice any sharp or jagged edges on your tooth, you can use dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissue.

How we treat cracked teeth: We’ll examine your cracked tooth to determine the cause of the situation as well as the proper treatment for it. If the crack is minor, then we can typically address it with composite resin to improve and strengthen your tooth. For more severe damage, you may require a dental crown to repair the structure and prevent future discomfort. If the tooth cannot be saved, then we’ll likely have to extract it and replace it with something else, such as a dental bridge, partial denture, or dental implant.

Learn More About Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Learn More About Dental Crowns
Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Chipping your tooth isn’t always considered an urgent dental situation, so it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t get it treated right away. That said, leaving it exposed to bacteria for too long can lead to problems later on. Before the situation can become worse, it’s best to visit your dentist for help.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Until you’re able to see us for treatment, be sure to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Be gentle when brushing your teeth and gums, and don’t hesitate to use dental wax to cover up any rough or sharp edges you might notice. This can help you prevent harming your cheeks or other soft oral tissue.

How we treat chipped teeth: Chipped teeth can typically be treated by using composite resin to repair and improve them. However, if the damage is more visible and toward the front of your smile, then veneers might be the longer-lasting solution you’re looking for.

Learn More About Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches can be due to various reasons, some of which might not be particularly urgent. Even so, this can sometimes be an indication of a more serious dental emergency, such as an oral infection. That’s why it’s best to visit your dentist sooner rather than later so that they can address the underlying problem before it grows.

How you should handle a toothache: Rinse your mouth with saltwater to sanitize the area, dislodge any stuck objects between your teeth, and help alleviate any discomfort. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications to further minimize the aching.

How we treat toothaches: Our team will need to thoroughly evaluate your smile to determine the root cause of your toothache. If it’s due to periodontal issues, then we’ll provide gum disease treatment. Other procedures to get rid of your toothache might involve root canals or tooth extractions, if necessary. We’ll be sure to walk you through your options before moving forward with any treatment.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy
Learn More About Tooth Extractions
Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment