Dental bonding and veneers are among the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures. In this article, we compare dental bonding and veneers to help you understand the differences between the two procedures.
Bonding vs. Veneers: Understanding the Differences
At first glance, dental bonding and veneers can seem similar as they are often used to solve the same cosmetic issues, which include:
- Mask stains and discoloration on teeth
- Restore chipped, worn-out, or cracked teeth
- Mask minor gaps between teeth
- Adjust the size, shape, or height of teeth
- Protect exposed tooth roots
However, there are several principal differences between these two procedures. Let us look at them in more detail and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding uses a resin composite (the same material used for dental fillings) that is applied only to the parts of a tooth that require adjustment. Also, bonding can be used to attach a chipped-off piece back to the tooth.
Resin composite is a tooth-colored material, and its shade can be closely matched to your natural teeth, making the treated areas look natural. Typically, dental bonding lasts 3 to 5 years before it needs to be replaced and comes with dietary limitations. Thus, you will have to avoid staining foods and drinks, as well as crunchy and hard foods.
Dental bonding application requires preliminary tooth preparation: a small portion of your tooth’s enamel is filed down to ensure secure adhesion of the bonding material and create space for the bonding to fit comfortably.
Once the tooth is prepared, the resin composite is applied, shaped to achieve the desired look, hardened with a special light, and polished.
Dental Veneers
Unlike bonding, which is applied only to a part of a tooth, a veneer is a thin shell that covers the entire front of a tooth. Typically, dental veneers are made of porcelain, but in some cases can be made of resin composite. Porcelain is more durable and stain-resistant than resin composite, allowing porcelain veneers to last up to 15 years with proper care.
However, veneers tend to be more expensive than dental bonding. Also, veneer application requires more significant enamel removal to ensure the veneer fits correctly. Since our teeth can not survive without their enamel, getting dental veneers often means that you will have to wear them for the rest of your life or replace them with dental crowns if necessary.
Dental veneers cannot be used to attach a chipped piece back to the tooth, but they can offer superior enhancements in tooth color and shape compared to resin composites.
How to Choose Between Dental Veneers and Bonding
The choice between bonding and veneers can depend on several factors:
- The severity, extent, and type of the issues that require adjustments. For example, a chipped tooth might be treated with dental bonding, while severe discoloration across several teeth might be better suited to veneers.
- Your budget: as we mentioned before, veneers are more expensive than bonding.
- If you are ready to commit to an irreversible procedure that will need to be repeated every 10 to 15 years, as is the case with dental veneers.
- Your lifestyle and dietary preferences.
Make an Appointment with an Experienced Cosmetic Dentist
If you are considering dental bonding or veneers, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist at Absolute Family Dentistry. We will carefully examine your oral health and consider your goals and preferences to offer you the optimal cosmetic procedure. We are looking forward to your visit.
