Bonding Vs. Lumineers After Braces

Question

My braces are coming off soon. I have a peg lateral incisor, which doesn't look too bad. Since my braces pushed all my teeth "tightly" together, will i be able to have bonding or a lumineer put in?

Scott Young, DDS · Answer

I would have your orthodontist leave small spaces around your latera incisors so that you can have bonding or veneers when your treatment is completed. This will allow your cosmetic dentist to give you the correct size laterals. Good luck.

Steven Glassman, DDS · Answer

If you are still not happy with your peg laterals it's best that your Orthodontic treatment would allow space around the laterals so the small teeth can be made wider through bonding or Porcelain Veneers. If the space is completely closed the only change can be made is the color and the length.

Ronald Konig DDS · Answer

You seem to be on the right track.  Teeth look nice due to proportions of the teeth to each other.  If your lateral teeth are too small and your orthodontist has closed the spaces, then the esthetic result can be compromised.

	It might be prudent to have a good cosmetic dentist look at your teeth before the braces are removed and have him coordinate the proper amount of space to be left for bonding or veneering the tooth.  The lateral incisors are really good teeth to bond from a longevity perspective as there is very little biting done on this tooth.

	Hope this helps!

	 

	Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF

Ted Murray, DDS · Answer

It's critical that the Cosmetic Dentist do a final evaluation before the Orthodontist removes the braces to be sure the tooth is in the best position. Dental Bonding is usually a more ideal and conservative approach for this situation. Due to the younger age of most of these type of patients, dental bonding allows the dentist to go back and add to the bonding as the shape of the gums change over time without having to start all over.

Wendy S. Spektor, DDS · Answer

Congratulations-It looks like you are almost done with your braces!  Finishing an orthodontic case can involve bonding or veneering if the orthodontist has planned for it.

	I have found that once braces are off and if all spaces are closed down that you should wait to see how things settle.  You can always do bonding but the braces should have corrected everything but space and if you have no space left then you should look great!

Greg Lutke, DDS · Answer

I would ask your orthodontist - is it possible to leave some space for the peg lateral to have the 'normal' size after the braces come off.  That way, the veneer or bonding would fill in this space - and the peg would become a normal size tooth. 

	As your picture shows, you currently do not have space for a Lumineer or bonding.  Once again, I would ask your orthodontist this question as a starting point.

Paul D. Kantor, DDS · Answer

I'm a little concerned about the lack of space, but I think you could have either one. I would try bonding first to see if you like the result. Keep in mind that if you don't think it looks bad, you could always opt to do nothing, at least for now.

Dalvir Pannu, DDS · Answer

This is a really good question. Even though the teeth are very close to each other you can get either bonding or lumineer for your peg lateral. I would recommend doing bonding first in office also known as Direct laminates to see the expected result after the restoration and then may be do lumineer in the future to restore it permanently.

	Dr Pannu

Neal Nealis, DDS (retired) · Answer

I like your question, and my answer would be to do neither!  Bonding is too temporary.  In five to ten years it will need to be replaced.  Who wants to get drilled that often?  No one.  Lumineers are porcelain veneers that are added to the teeth without removing any of the tooth structure.  For most people the result is thick teeth that look more like Chiclet gum.  The ideal solution would be traditional veneers where a thin layer of tooth enamel is removed from the front of the teeth to compensate for the thickness of the veneers.  The end result looks fantastic and is durable.  However, porcelain veneers are the most difficult procedures that a dentist can offer, and the technique involves a multitude of details which are all important.  So if you dentist has not placed many veneers, then you are best off with Lumineers.  They are much easier for a dentist to make.

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD - Account Suspended · Answer

Sometimes one lateral is smaller than another, so spaces around the smaller tooth should NOT be closed.  This will allow the restorative dentist to make the smaller tooth the same size as the non-peg lateral.

	This requires strong communication between the restorative dentist and the orthodontist, as many orthodontists simply try to close spaces.  Once treatment is complete, wearing a retainer for a short time to allow teeth to "settle" is a good idea, and then bonding or a lumineer/porcelain veneer can be placed.

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