Teeth Bonding vs Veneers: What You Didn’t Know

Dental or teeth bonding and porcelain veneers are both popular dental procedures. In the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist, these procedures can enhance the appearance of your teeth, creating a more aesthetically perfect smile.

However, each treatment is quite different. Understanding the processes and what can reasonably be achieved is important. This article will explain each treatment clearly discuss when it is appropriate and what is involved.

What Is Teeth Bonding?

Dental or tooth bonding is a straightforward procedure that can subtly enhance the appearance of your teeth. The treatment uses tooth-colored composite resin material applied directly to tooth surfaces.

The composite resin can change the tooth’s overall shape, size, and color, masking small imperfections so the tooth looks more cosmetically perfect. Teeth bonding is often reversible, as removing any tooth structure is frequently unnecessary.

When to Consider Dental Bonding?

It’s worth considering dental bonding if you have any of the following issues that you’d like to treat and which include:

• Minor cracks or chips in your teeth.
• Gaps between your teeth that you wish to close or minimize.
• Teeth you’d like to look longer.
• Teeth that aren’t quite the right size or shape.
• Teeth that are discolored and which cannot be whitened with an ordinary tooth whitening treatment.

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Who Can Have Teeth Bonding?

Treatment is generally suitable for anybody who has reasonably strong and healthy teeth with most of the tooth structure remaining. Treatment may be less suitable for teeth with large fillings or significant damage, such as sizable cracks or chips.

The Teeth Bonding Procedure

The process for having your teeth bonded is very straightforward. It can often be completed in a single visit to your dentist.

1. Your dentist will choose the right shade of composite resin, matching it to your natural tooth color so it complements your real teeth and blends in beautifully.
2. The tooth surface is prepared by applying an etching fluid that will likely roughen the surface. Roughening the surface increases the surface area so that when the composite resin is applied, it can bond more strongly to the tooth.
3. A conditioning liquid is applied to the tooth surface to help the composite resin adhere strongly.
4. The composite resin is applied to the tooth and cured with a special light that helps it to harden and bond to the tooth surface.
5. Once all the composite resin is applied, your dentist will shape and polish it to create a natural appearance.

Once your treatment is complete, you can bite and chew food normally and expect your composite resin veneers to last several years before they need touching up or replacing entirely.

Composite resin can stain over time, but the rate of staining will depend on lifestyle habits like smoking or eating and drinking lots of highly colored foods. Practicing good oral care and seeing your dentist regularly for hygiene appointments will prolong their natural life.

Understanding the Difference between Dental Bonding and Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain shells custom-made by your dentist to fit precisely over the front surfaces of teeth. The ceramic used to make veneers is strong, durable, and lasts longer than dental bonding.

Porcelain veneers are different from dental bonding because they are made outside of your mouth. Usually, you would require at least two visits to your dentist to have these veneers made and fitted, and treatment is generally irreversible.

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Comparing Both Treatments

While porcelain veneers last longer, dental bonding can provide very good results, although they are subtler. Also, porcelain veneers are generally irreversible, although sometimes the veneers are prep-free, where your dentist is less likely to need to remove any tooth structure. These veneers are called Lumineers and are thinner than ordinary veneers. They are made from an extremely strong type of porcelain and tend to last longer, but they may not be suitable for every situation.

When to Consider Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers can correct a range of issues similar to dental bonding.

It’s worth considering them if you have any of the following problems and which include:

• Gaps or spaces between your teeth.
• Broken or chipped teeth.
• Stained or discolored teeth.
• Teeth that are misshapen or rotated.
• Teeth that are too small or too short.

Who Can Have Porcelain Veneers?

Just like dental bonding, you need to have teeth that are generally strong and healthy. If you have any significant damage or decay or large chips and cracks in your teeth, your dentist may suggest another treatment, like covering the tooth entirely with a porcelain crown.

The Process for Porcelain Veneers

The process for porcelain veneers is very straightforward and is outlined below.

Visit One

1. Your dentist will numb your teeth before preparing them, removing minimal tooth structure to create enough room for the veneers to fit comfortably. This is necessary to ensure your veneers don’t look too large, bulky, and unnatural.
2. Once your teeth are prepared, your dentist takes a dental impression and determines which shade is most suitable for your new veneers. If you wish to have multiple veneers covering most or all of your front teeth, you can normally choose a shade lighter than your natural teeth.
3. The dental impression will be sent to a dental lab where your custom-made veneers can take up to 2 weeks to complete.
4. Temporary veneers are fitted over your teeth to protect them. When multiple veneers are needed, these temporary veneers may be based on a digital smile design or mockup of your teeth. This enables you to check you are happy with the design and to make any changes before the permanent veneers are made.

Visit Two

1. Once your veneers are ready, you return to the dental office, and your dentist will remove your temporary veneers. You wouldn’t normally need any local anesthetic during this treatment.
2. Your dentist will try in your new veneers, checking that they fit perfectly and look good. You will get a chance to view them at this stage.
3. When your dentist is happy they are perfect, they are bonded onto your teeth using a special cement. Any small adjustments are made, and you are ready to enjoy your new smile.

Sometimes, making and fitting porcelain veneers during the same visit is possible. This may be the case if your dentist has CADCAM technology and an on-site milling machine that can complete your veneers within a few hours after tooth preparation.

This process can avoid the need for a second appointment and temporary veneers. However, if you require multiple veneers or need other restorations like dental crowns, your dentist may prefer to make them in the dental lab.

Fabricating the restorations in a dental lab might take longer, but it ensures your porcelain veneers and any other restorations needed will blend in perfectly. It is a technique that can be especially helpful during smile makeovers.

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What to Expect When You Have Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers cost more than dental bonding, but they should last longer with the right after-care. Also, porcelain doesn’t stain, so your veneers should remain looking good for many years to come.

Like dental bonding, you can help them last longer by practising good oral care and regularly seeing your dentist for checkups and hygiene appointments.

Deciding Which Option Will Best Suit You

Now you know a bit more about each treatment, schedule an appointment with your cosmetic dentist to discuss these options further. They can examine your mouth, listen to your treatment goals, and determine your budget, helping you decide which will provide the best outcome.