Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding

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porcelain veneers vs dental bonding

When it comes to making your teeth beautiful, dentists have a lot more options than you might realize. Two of those options for perfecting the colour, size, shape and spacing of your teeth are porcelain veneers and dental bonding. The options have things in common and important distinctions. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which option is best for you.

What are veneers and what is bonding?

What are veneers? What is bonding?

Porcelain veneers from a dental clinic in Saskatoon are thin shell-like pieces of porcelain that are placed over the front of the teeth that you want to change.  Veneers can be placed on a single tooth or on multiple teeth on your upper or lower jaw.

Porcelain veneers treatment consists of preparing your teeth at your dentist’s office, taking impressions of the prepared teeth, sending those impressions to a dental laboratory where technicians make veneers to fit your teeth and fitting and bonding the veneers onto your teeth. The entire process of getting veneers from a dental clinic typically takes approximately two to three appointments over a period of two to three weeks. 

Dental bonding is the process of fixing small irregularities in your teeth by applying composite resin materials in a putty form, then curing, trimming and polishing the surfaces to make the improvements sought and to ensure the bonded surfaces match your other teeth. 

The material used to perform dental bonding is essentially the same material as used to provide “white” fillings, and can also be used to make cosmetic improvements to your teeth. The process of dental bonding typically takes a half-hour for each tooth to be altered, though that can vary depending on what is being addressed. One tooth or multiple teeth can be bonded in a single appointment. 

Who can benefit from veneers and bonding?

You could benefit from veneers if… You could benefit from dental bonding if…
You have severely stained or discoloured teeth in a way that can not be whitened away.

You have cracked, chipped teeth or worn teeth.

You have mildly or moderately crooked teeth.

There are large gaps between your teeth or, alternatively, you have overlapping teeth.

If the issues affecting your teeth are too extensive to be perfected using porcelain veneers in Saskatoon or the issues affect more than the front surface of your tooth covered by a veneer, a dentist may recommend that you consider dental crowns instead of veneers. 

If your teeth have small or medium-sized chips or cracks or if your teeth are misshapen.

If your teeth have minor stains that can’t be cleaned or whitened away.

If the roots of your teeth have become exposed due to receding gums caused by periodontal disease.

 

What are the pros and cons of veneers and bonding?

Dental veneers Bonding
Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages
Veneers cover cracks and stains and correct misshapen teeth more effectively than bonding.

Porcelain is more stain-resistant and less likely to chip or be broken.

Porcelain veneers can be perfectly colour-matched to your other teeth

A thin layer of the enamel needs to be removed from your teeth for a veneer to be replaced. Going forward, the tooth will always need to be protected with a veneer or crown.

Because getting veneers requires more steps, veneers are more expensive than bonding.

Bonding is a faster process than getting veneers, and can usually be done in a single appointment.

Chips or cracks in your bonding can be repaired easily. 

The composite resin material used in bonding is not as strong as porcelain, meaning it will chip more easily.

Bonding stains more easily than porcelain.

If used to renovate multiple teeth or an entire smile, bonding may be no less expensive than veneers.

 

If you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive solution for minor flaws affecting your teeth, dental bonding may be the option you’re looking for. If the flaws affecting your teeth are more extensive or you’re looking to transform your entire “smile zone,” ask a dentist if porcelain veneers treatment is appropriate for your needs and goals.