Veneers Vs Dental Bonding: Which Treatment Suits You Best

Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way with its innovations for providing everyone with beautiful and healthy teeth. Smiles are such a priceless and effortless thing to wear that can make you stand out. However, since there are already several options out there, it’s becoming difficult to choose which dental treatment suits you. Whether it’s tooth bonding or veneers, let this article help you decide. 

Tooth veneers

Veneers are also known as tooth shells or dental laminates. That is because they are literally thin shells of prosthetic teeth used for covering or laminating a tooth flaw. Teeth shells are popular among patients who aim for perfect teeth without going through rigorous procedures. Also, once it is worn over, there is an instant improvement in one’s smile. 

Dental bonding

On the other hand, dental or cosmetic bonding is a dental technique that uses a resin material to restore a damaged tooth. The dentist can easily mould and shape this material to create the most ideal smile for the patient. Bonding is a common procedure in dental offices as this doesn’t only fix aesthetics but the function of the tooth as well. 

Veneers vs dental bonding

Both veneers and dental bonding provide their fair share of advantages and drawbacks. You will use the following comparison to determine if they are the right fit for your smile enhancement goals. 

• Preparation

The application of tooth shells requires thinning down the tooth structure. Your dentist will remove a thin portion of your teeth enamel as preparation for the attachment of the veneers. This makes sure that the shells are properly placed and do not look bulky or fake. Traditionally, grinding down the enamel may need local anesthetics as it can be painful. 

On the other hand, preparing your teeth for the bonding process is minimal. It’s not necessary to do major tooth reshaping before the application. However, the dentist will roughen the teeth to ensure the bonding material adheres properly. Usually, anesthesia isn’t needed unless the patient has dental anxiety or the affected tooth has cavities. 

• Material

Teeth shells are usually made of porcelain. It is non-porous which makes it resistant to stains and the colour closely resembles that of natural teeth. It can also be made of resin material, however, it’s not as durable as porcelain. Fabricating the veneers may take more or less a week so, your session may need at least two visits to the dentist.

A bonding material, meanwhile, is made of composite resin. The dentist will use a shade guide to make sure the resin matches your teeth colour. The bonding process can be done in a few minutes as the dentist applies the resin material directly to the tooth. With proper care and maintenance, tooth bonding may last for more than ten years. 

• Durability

Since veneers are made of porcelain, they’re far more durable than composite bondings which is used for teeth bonding. Porcelain is known for its strong composition and being non-porous, making it more resistant to stains or breaks. 

On the other hand, resin materials can easily chip and lead to teeth discolouration. When this happens, you will need to get a whole new teeth bonding procedure to restore your teeth.  

However, both materials are still vulnerable to strong chewing forces and may wear down for a short time. That’s why it’s important to have frequent checkups from your dentist to keep its function. 

• Appearance

Porcelain imitates a natural tooth in shape and shade, and its ability to reflect in the light. It’s also stain-resistant and smooth making it an ideal colour and material for a set of teeth. These are a few of the reasons why porcelain veneers are considered as ‘Hollywood beautiful smile’. 

Composite resin is tooth-coloured so they are quite suitable for fixing your teeth imperfections. However, once it wears down, cracks, chips, or stains it can be distracting to onlookers. 

• Coverage 

Both procedures are recommended for front teeth only as the materials might not endure the pressure needed for the molars. Veneers and bonding are as good as covering teeth imperfections such as stained teeth, gaps, chips, breaks, and small teeth. However, they are not designed to restore a tooth’s chewing function or grinding in the molar area. 

• Cost 

Dental veneers cost is around $200 CAD to $8000 CAD per tooth while tooth bonding costs $100 CAD to $500 CAD per tooth on average. Yet, this also depends on the location of the practice, the expertise of the dentist, and the materials involved. The best way to know the exact quotation is to consult your Thornhill dentist first.