Dental Bonding vs. Porcelain Veneers
Modern dentistry has led to many wonderful ways to quickly and dramatically change the appearance of your smile. If you are looking for a Long Island cosmetic dentist to give you a gorgeous smile, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Garden City Smiles. Before your consultation, here are some things to help you decide which treatment is best.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is used to improve the size, shape, and shade of the teeth. Dental bonding treatment uses a malleable resin, which is shaped and shaded to the desired appearance. This soft resin is applied to the front surface of the tooth and hardened with a special laser or light. Once hardened, the bonded tooth is finely shaped and polished for a gorgeous smile. Dental bonding treatment is quick and painless. Treatment only takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Like dental bonding, porcelain veneers are used to improve the appearance of the teeth. Instead of a soft resin, veneers are made of hard porcelain. Porcelain veneers are tooth-shaped, thin, shells made from impressions of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are generally made in a dental lab outside of your dentist's office. This means the porcelain veneers process usually requires a minimum of two dental visits.
The Similarities Between Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are similar in that they are used to treat many of the same issues. The main purpose of both treatments is to mask imperfections like discoloration and minor cracks. Dental bonding and porcelain veneers can both be used to treat the following:
- Discolored Teeth: Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are customized to the desired shade of white. Even teeth that are too discolored to reach the desired shade with professional whitening can be made a gorgeous pearly white with either dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
- Minor Chips or Fractures: Small chips and minor fractures can be repaired with either dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
- Misshaped Teeth: Both dental bonding and porcelain veneers can be used to correct the shape and size of irregular teeth for an even, uniform appearance.
- Gaps Between Teeth: Gaps between teeth can be closed with either porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
The Differences Between Dental Bonding and Porcelain Veneers
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are very similar, as they treat many of the same conditions. The main differences between the two treatments are time and the extent to which the natural tooth is altered for treatment.
- Treatment Time: Dental bonding treatment is typically completed quicker than porcelain veneer treatment. For many people, dental bonding can be completed in one dental visit. Porcelain veneers often require two visits - the first to create an impression of the teeth from which the veneers are crafted, and the second to apply the veneers.
- Tooth Alteration: In order to apply the dental bonding treatment or porcelain veneers, the teeth must be altered, or prepared, to some extent. Dental bonding involves the application of a chemical to roughen the surface of the tooth and porcelain veneers require the removal of a thin layer of enamel. This removal of enamel means that once you have veneers you must maintain them or you will be at higher risk for tooth decay.
- Durability: Porcelain veneers last longer than the dental bonding material.
- Look: Porcelain veneers offer a more natural appearance when compared to the composite resin material used in the dental bonding procedure.
Schedule a Consultation
When deciding between dental bonding or porcelain veneers, it is best to discuss your goals and expectations with your dentist to determine which treatment is most suitable. For our patients in Long Island, porcelain veneers and dental bonding are popular treatments to instantly improve their smiles. Contact our offices today to see which treatment is best for you.