If you’re interested in improving the color, shape and appearance of your teeth then dental bonding or dental veneers may be right for you. Both treatments are employed to enhance the look of your smile.
Both procedures are restorative cosmetic treatments, and both can give you the appearance of a perfect smile. So, what is the difference between dental veneers and dental bonding? Let’s examine the difference between these two popular cosmetic treatments.
What Are Veneers?
Many celebrities that you see with perfect smiles are wearing dental veneers. Veneers are made of porcelain and cover the face of your teeth.
Veneers can change the shape of your teeth, improve color and even add length. You can get a single veneer for just one tooth or you can get a full set of veneers so that all your teeth are perfectly aligned and have the same color.
Veneers are custom designed in a lab by a dental tech to perfectly fit and match the color of your natural teeth. Normally a few appointments are required to prepare the teeth.
You are a candidate for veneers if you have:
- Cracked or chipped teeth
- Gaps between your teeth
- Worn or crooked teeth
- Stains or discoloration
- What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is the process of applying white fillings to the surface of the tooth. Bonding is perfect for people who have small flaws they want to correct. Dental bonding can fix minor discoloration, cracks, and chips.
You are a candidate for dental bonding if you have:
- Cracked or chipped teeth
- Minor discoloration
- shaped teeth
- Gaps between your teeth
- Exposed roots from receding gums
So, then what’s the difference?
The treatments are very similar, and your choice depends on your specific needs.
Essentially, the long-term option for a smile upgrade is porcelain veneers, but bonding can be used for minor enhancements.
There are pros and cons to veneers and bonding. Let’s look at the pros of veneers first.
Pros of Dental Veneers:
Porcelain veneers will give you the perfect smile instantly. They cover cracks, stains, and misshapen teeth more effectively than bonding. Porcelain is stainless and much stronger which make them much harder to crack or chip. They normally last about 15 years.
Cons of Veneers:
When veneers are applied a thin layer of tooth enamel is removed and replaced with porcelain. It is fused to your tooth enamel making veneers a permanent and irreversible procedure.
Veneers are more expensive because they are custom designed in a lab. It takes more time and preparation to create and place the veneers.
Pros of Dental Bonding:
Bonding is a faster procedure and typically only takes one appointment. There’s not as much preparation and customization involved which normally makes bonding the cheaper alternative.
If you take care of your teeth, dental bonding can last up to 10 years before needing to be replaced.
If you plan on a complete smile makeover, the cost can be similar, so be sure to check with your dentist.
Cons of Dental Bonding:
Dental bonding is made of composite resin, so the material isn’t as strong as porcelain. This makes bonding more susceptible to chip or crack. And it’s more porous making it more likely to stain.
Bonding is also limited in what it can mask aesthetically. Dark and discolored teeth and be difficult for bonding to cover. The results you get depend very much on the skills and experience of your cosmetic dentist. A single tooth or a few teeth can be elementary, but a full set smile makeover can be challenging, and a cosmetic dentist will typically recommend porcelain veneers in this case.
