Bonding or Veneers: Which is Right for You?
- Posted on: Aug 15 2017
Patients who want to improve the appearance of their smile may believe that there is only one way to do so. In fact, cosmetic dentistry offers some services through which teeth can be made to look better. In our Pasadena office, patients may choose to whiten their teeth, to close gaps, and even change the size or shape of a tooth or teeth. The more options that are offered, the more confusion may muddle the big picture. Here, we want to discuss the differences between dental bonding and porcelain veneers so you can better understand the value of each as they relate to your desired outcome.
Both dental bonding and porcelain veneers fall into the veneer category of cosmetic dentistry. Where they differ is in the technique of placement.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a direct veneer procedure that is conducted within a single appointment. Bonding involves the application of a plastic-based material that matches the shade of surrounding enamel. In this process, the material is chemically bonded to the front surface of the tooth. One of the benefits of dental bonding is that the composite resin can be molded into a paper-thin surface, lending to the greatest extent of tooth preservation. A key point of dental bonding is that this treatment is usually most resilient when used for small areas of concern, such as a slight chip or crack.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are made in a dental lab. Due to the fragility of porcelain, these indirect veneers need to maintain a certain thickness. A porcelain veneer is only about as thick as a fingernail. However, if this cover were to be applied to untreated tooth structure, the overall result would be a display of overly-large teeth. For this reason, the porcelain veneer process includes slight tooth reduction. Porcelain veneers may be used for small chips and cracks, and are best known for large-scale aesthetic improvement such as closing gaps and resizing teeth.
Some patients shy away from porcelain veneer treatment because they prefer not to have natural tooth structure altered. We can accommodate this preference by using no-prep veneer products such as LUMINEERS.
Is now the time to revive the beauty in your smile? Call 713-943-9832 for personal, friendly care.
Posted in: Veneers
