What is the Difference Between Dental Bonding & Veneers?
There are actually some noticeable differences between a dental bonding winston salem north carolina solution and that of a porcelain veneer. Dental bonding has more applications such as exposed root protection and filling cavities. Veneers are limited to the front of the teeth and are primarily cosmetic in their application. There are differences in the amount of prep, the process time, the cost of the solution and the life expectancies of both. We’ll focus on just the front teeth for this comparison.
What is Dental Bonding?
With less than 60 minutes of time invested per tooth, dental bonding is a very economical solution for chipped or cracked front teeth or to close a gap between two front teeth. Without any anesthesia needed the enamel surface is roughed up, a mild etching solution is applied then the dentist applies the putty like texture of the resin directly to the tooth. The material can be smoothed, sculpted and shaped. When finished an ultra violet light will be used to cure and harden the material. The dentist will finish by polishing the final product.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers are only applied on the outside surface of the tooth. Wafer-thin pieces of porcelain, fabricated in a dental lab, are glued to the front of your teeth after a small amount of enamel is removed. Custom made in a lab the color is a perfect match for your natural teeth and the durability is far superior to the resin composite application. The process will consist of several visits. An impression is first made of your teeth to give the lab a roadmap of their objectives. The final appointment will be the placing of the veneer or veneers.
Benefits of Dental Bonding
This solution is quick; one hour and your smile is back without the cracked or chipped tooth, or even that gap between your teeth has been eliminated. The cost is a fraction of the veneer method but the life expectancy is considerably shorter than the veneer route. If you are a heavy coffee drinker, or smoke, it may be advised that you don’t go through with the bonding because the resin is easier to stain than the much harder porcelain.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
The primary benefit of the veneer approach over the dental bonding is that the veneers do not stain and the life expectancy will surpass that of bonding by two to four times longer. Veneers can last 10 to 20 years depending on the oral hygiene of the patient.
Which is best for You?
That is the million-dollar question. Your dentist will give you a thorough evaluation and make suggestions and recommendations based on your particular situation, life style considerations and the financial impact. Either way, with newly bonding front teeth or porcelain veneers, you can smile with more confidence.
More on Dental Bonding : Fixing gaps between front teeth with dental bonding