What is the difference between dental bonding and veneers?

If you have a chipped tooth, gaps between your teeth, or teeth that are oddly shaped, your dentist may have some cosmetic treatment solutions for you. Two of the more common cosmetic treatment procedures include dental bonding in Valparaiso in and porcelain veneers. Both cosmetic bonding and veneers can be used to fix the appearance of one single tooth, or many teeth. If you are interested in improving the appearance of your smile and trying to decide what the right fix may be for you, you will need to do your research. Here is a more information detailing the differences between dental bonding procedures and dental veneers to help clarify your treatment options.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure where a composite material is applied to the teeth where it will be hardened and shined to match the surrounding natural teeth. One of the benefits of dental bonding is that minimal preparation is required to prepare the teeth for the procedure. Despite the fact that bonding is quick and cost-effective, the bonding materials can break down over time or the material can stain from drinking coffee or tea or using nicotine. While bonding is durable, the bonding material usually lasts on average between 3-10 years. Bonding is a great non-invasive treatment for filling cracks and chips and the treatment can be completed in a routine dental visit.  What makes the bonding treatment unique, is the bonding is sculpted and customized in your mouth to fit your needs.

Veneers

A dental veneer is an artificial prosthetic that is attached to the front of the tooth. Veneers are commonly custom-made of porcelain in a dental lab. Veneers are durable, stain resistant, and a more permanent solution, lasting somewhere between 5-20 years. However, unlike bonding, some preparation is required prior to installing veneers. After teeth are measured and x-rays are taken, the veneers will need to be made in the dental lab. Next, the teeth will need to be prepared for the veneers prior to the attachment. In all, these preparation steps may require several visits to the dentist before the veneers are finally attached.

Deciding between bonding and veneers

Deciding if cosmetic bonding or veneers is the right treatment to improve your smile may be a tough decision to make and will depend on your oral health, your dental needs, and the expertise of your dentist. Here are some major points to consider:

  • Veneers are a more permanent and durable way to enhance your smile
  • Porcelain veneers are a big investment and may be more than you need for a minor repair to one tooth
  • Dental bonding is a quick and cost-effective fix for many cosmetic concerns, however it is not a permanent solution

To determine what is best for you, you should have a discussion with your dentist. When making this decision you should consider both the short term, and the long term. You should also take into consideration the health of your teeth, the cost of the treatment, and your ability to take care of your teeth.

More on Dental Bonding :  What is Dental Bonding?

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