Many dental treatments improve your beautiful smile while repairing cracked teeth, chipped teeth, discolored teeth, or damaged and misshapen teeth. As a result, cosmetic dentist patients generally consider two solutions: dental bonding and dental veneers.
Dental bonding and dental veneers are safe cosmetic dentistry procedures that can provide solutions for chipped or cracked teeth without affecting the tooth structure. However, there are some key differences between these two dental procedures.
The best way to settle the dental bonding vs. dental veneers debate is to schedule a consultation with an exceptional dental practice specializing in a complete smile makeover. A professional and caring team like the one you’ll find at Pannu Dental Group will explain the differences when it comes to dental bonding vs. dental veneers.
Furthermore, our professional dentists will craft an individualized cosmetic treatment based on your unique dental issues, oral health needs, and cosmetic concerns.
Before your consultation to discuss dental bonding, dental veneers, and other cosmetic procedures, take a moment to take a closer look at bonding vs. dental veneers. Today, we will explore how these two cosmetic dentistry procedures can create a more natural appearance while improving your oral health.
Table of Contents
How Does Dental Bonding Work?
Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding
What are Dental Veneers?
How Do Dental Veneers Work?
Pros and Cons of Dental Veneers
How to Choose Between Dental Bonding and Dental Veneers
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure designed to cover discolored teeth or repair chipped or cracked teeth. The dental bonding procedure entails the use of composite resin material that is designed to mimic natural teeth. The material is applied to the tooth’s surface to hide small chips or cracks and create whiter teeth.
Like many cosmetic procedures, dental bonding is safe and noninvasive and can provide a beautiful natural smile when the dental bonding procedure is performed by a top cosmetic dentist.
How Does Dental Bonding Work?
While dental bonding cosmetic procedures can vary based on a patient’s distinctive needs, the dental bonding process usually includes the following steps.
- Step 1 –The first step is preparing the tooth’s surface for the cosmetic bonding procedure. This entails cleaning the tooth thoroughly, and selecting a shade for the composite resin to ensure the bonding material perfectly matches your natural teeth.
- Step 2 – The dentist may roughen the tooth’s surface slightly and apply a conditioning liquid to ensure the composite resin is permanently applied during the cosmetic dentistry procedure.
- Step 3 – Once the tooth has been fully prepared, the cosmetic dentist will apply the dental bonding resin in small layers, shaping and smoothing the tooth’s surface along the way.
- Step 4 – After the composite resin has been carefully applied, the cosmetic dentist will use a special UV light to harden the resin material and make it a permanent addition to your natural teeth.
- Step 5 – After confirming that the composite resin material is hardened and permanently affixed to the tooth’s surface (the tooth-colored resin matches the existing teeth), the cosmetic dentist will trim and polish the tooth to ensure it perfectly matches the surrounding natural teeth.
Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding
While all cosmetic procedures are designed to repair or whiten teeth, dental bonding has its own set of pros and cons.
Pros of Dental Bonding
- A minimally invasive procedure – Dental bonding, unlike dental veneers or crowns, requires minimal tooth preparation. This process preserves tooth enamel and leaves your surrounding natural teeth untouched.
- Cost-effective – Compared to more in-depth procedures such as dental veneers or dental crowns, dental bonding is also typically more affordable, depending on a patient’s distinctive needs.
- Less time in the dentist’s chair – Dental bonding is a very fast procedure. The entire process, from tooth preparation to finalizing the composite material on the bonded teeth, typically takes less than an hour.
- Addresses a range of cosmetic issues – Dental bonding can be used for a range of cosmetic concerns, including chipped teeth, stained teeth, gaps in teeth, stained or discolored teeth, and more.
- Instant results – Once the dental bonding procedure is finished and your bonded teeth are set, you will walk out of the dentist’s office with a beautifully new and improved smile.
- No recovery time – Dental bonding is generally a pain-free experience from start to finish, with no recovery time or the need to adhere to post-procedure restrictions, like avoiding certain foods.
Cons of Dental Bonding
- Not as durable – Dental bonding is affordable. However, the composite bonding material is not as durable as porcelain veneers or composite veneers.
- Stains can still occur – The composite bonding material can still stain over time, especially for patients who enjoy coffee, tea, or red wine on a regular basis.
- Possible chipping and breaking – The composite bonding material or composite resin is also more susceptible to chipping, cracking, or breaking than natural tooth enamel.
- Limited in aesthetic capabilities – While composite bonding or composite resin can be used in small doses to fix a wide range of issues (like small chips or cracks), dental bonding might not be a suitable solution for major cosmetic changes, such as severely damaged or discolored teeth.
- Maintenance – Routine and regular oral hygiene practices are required to maintain the appearance of bonded teeth. In addition, follow-up dentist appointments will be required to ensure the longevity of the bonded teeth.
What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are a long-term solution for cosmetic improvements, which include masking teeth discolorations, correcting minor misalignments, closing gaps in teeth, and reshaping misaligned teeth.
Essentially, dental veneers are thin, and custom-made shells that are placed on the front surface of teeth in order to improve their appearance.
Types of Dental Veneers: Porcelain Veneers and Composite Veneers
There are two types of dental veneers that are used in this cosmetic procedure: composite and porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers
As the name suggests, porcelain veneers are made of a thin and translucent ceramic material that is designed to provide a more natural appearance. Porcelain veneers may appear more natural than their composite material counterparts, and porcelain veneers are more durable and resistant to chipping or staining over time. Porcelain veneers can last for 10-15 years or more with proper care.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers are made of a composite resin-based material that is also designed to look just like your natural teeth. While composite veneers are generally less expensive than porcelain veneers, they may need to be replaced more often – every 5-7 years or so – and may not be as resistant to stains.
How Do Dental Veneers Work?
Regardless of whether you opt for porcelain veneers or composite veneers, a dental veneers procedure generally adheres to the following steps.
- Step 1 – The first step is tooth or teeth preparation, which may include a small amount of enamel removal along the front surface of the teeth. Digital scans or X-rays may also be taken of the teeth to guide the way for the dental veneer treatment ahead.
- Step 2 – The cosmetic dentist will select the perfect shade of porcelain or composite material to match your surrounding teeth and/or ensure your desired tooth color.
- Step 3 – Temporary veneers are placed so that the patient can ensure that the veneers are comfortable while the permanent veneers are created.
- Step 4 – Once it is time to place the permanent dental veneers, the dentist will apply a dental adhesive to bond the composite or porcelain veneers to your teeth.
- Sept 5 – The dentist will then use a special UV light to harden the veneer material and remove any excess material as needed to ensure your bite is properly aligned and your smile is at its best.
Pros and Cons of Dental Veneers
Just as dental bonding has its own suite of pros and cons, there are advantages and disadvantages to opting for dental veneers as a cosmetic dentistry solution. Dental bonding and dental veneers can repair chipped, cracked, or stained teeth or brighten the natural appearance of your smile. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind that are specific to dental veneers.
Pros of Dental Veneers
- Improved appearance – Dental veneers can cover up a range of cosmetic imperfections, which includes gapped teeth, discolored teeth, chipped teeth, and cracked teeth.
- Stain-resistant – Unlike other cosmetic treatments, dental veneers are highly stain-resistant, so you can maintain your natural appearance for many years to come.
- Durable – Dental veneers are also highly resistant to chips, cracks, and other damage, which extends their lifespan and reduces the number of trips to the dentist’s office.
- Customized – Dental veneers consist of custom-made shells that are specifically crafted for a patient’s teeth, ensuring a beautiful, natural- looking appearance that is wholly individualized.
- Minimally invasive – Unlike other cosmetic treatments like crowns, dental veneers typically require less tooth structure alterations or enamel removal, as the tooth underneath is unaffected by the procedure, making dental veneers a less invasive option.
- Comfortable procedure – With minimal tooth preparation and no alteration of the tooth structure, dental veneers are a comfortable procedure from start to finish.
- Long-lasting – While dental bonding can last 5-7 years or more, dental veneers have a longer lifespan that can extend well past a decade.
- A long-term investment – Because of this longer lifespan, dental veneers may be more affordable compared to other temporary treatments (like tooth whitening), which must be repeated often, with multiple trips to the cosmetic dentist’s office.
Cons of Dental Veneers
- Higher upfront cost – Because dental veneers are designed to be a more permanent solution for discolored or damaged teeth, the upfront cost can be more expensive than other treatments like dental bonding or teeth whitening.
- Permanent solution – Once dental veneers have been applied to the teeth, they are permanent and cannot be removed. (Granted, this is both a pro and a con when it comes to dental veneers.)
- Increased sensitivity concerns – On occasion, some patients report having a temporary increase in teeth sensitivity, especially when it comes to food and beverages with extremely hot or cold temperatures.
- Small potential for chips and breaking – Dental veneers are strong, but they can still be suspectable to chips or other damage, especially for patients who constantly grind their teeth or have poor oral hygiene habits
- Some maintenance required – Dental veneers require follow-up visits to the dentist office over the ensuing years and may need to be replaced after 10-15 years or so.
- Not a good option for severe dental problems – Dental veneers can address a wide range of cosmetic issues, but they are not ideal for more severe oral health problems, including tooth loss or severely damaged teeth.
How to Choose Between Dental Bonding and Dental Veneers
When it comes to dental bonding vs. veneers, consider the following.
- Choose dental bonding if you want a cost-effective and fast fix to cosmetic issues, if you do not want any enamel erosion or removal, and if you have minimal cosmetic imperfections that you want to address quickly.
- Choose dental veneers if you want a more permanent solution for discolored or damaged teeth, if you want a more natural looking treatment and want to make a long-term investment in your smile.
Furthermore, there are many other factors to consider when it comes to dental veneers, dental bonding, and a wealth of other cosmetic treatment options, which is why you should always talk with a cosmetic dentistry expert before launching into a big decision.
Dental Bonding vs Veneers – Choose the Right Option with Pannu Dental Group
At Pannu Dental Group, we are the best cosmetic dentist in San Jose and a trusted expert when it comes to all kinds of cosmetic dentistry procedures and treatments, including dental veneers and dental bonding.
Start your journey to better oral health and a more brilliant smile with a consultation with our caring and professional team.
Together, we will help you explore all your options when it comes to temporary or lifelong solutions.
From dental veneers to dental bonding, to tooth whitening, and many other treatments, we’ll work with you every step of the way to ensure that your cosmetic or necessary dental treatment aligns with your oral health goals and exceeds expectations.
Do not wait to boost your self-confidence by boosting your smile.
Schedule your consultation today and discover the advantages of dental bonding and veneers.
Dr. Dalvir S. Pannu has been a practicing dentist since 1995. In 1996 he opened his first dental practice in India, where he gained invaluable experience and acumen. In October of 1997 he was invited by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present the table clinic on Endodontics, at their annual session held in Washington, D.C. At this time he fell in love with the United States and became passionate about practicing dentistry in California. He became particularly enamored of the San Francisco Bay area, and soon took up residence and work here.