Choosing Between Veneers And Dental Bonding? Our Mill Valley Cosmetic Dentist Can Help

Written by Dr. McConnell on Jan 24, 2023

One of the most important things that we do in our Mill Valley dental office is to help our patients evaluate their treatment options, so that they can make decisions that meet their unique needs. We know that assessing treatment options can sometimes be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way!

Today, we’re going to be talking about two treatments—dental bonding and veneers—how they’re similar and how they’re different.

Uses

Dental bonding and veneers can be used to achieve many of the same dental goals:

  • Closing gaps between teeth
  • Covering discolored or unsightly enamel
  • Lengthening short or poorly proportioned teeth
  • Correcting dental damage, like cracks and chips
  • Making slightly misaligned teeth look straighter

Materials 

The first key difference between dental bonding and veneer’s treatment is the materials that are used in each. Dental bonding uses composite resin to resurface teeth, while veneers are made of thin layers or porcelain. Both of these materials can be custom-shaped and shaded to blend with the patient’s smile. 

Timeline

Because veneers are individually crafted restorations, it takes two to three appointments to complete treatment. First your teeth are prepped, then we’ll wait for your restoration to be crafted, and finally you’ll come in to the office so that we can place your veneer. The dental bonding process is completed in just one appointment, making this an ideal treatment for people who want to achieve results quickly.

Cost

Generally speaking, veneers are more expensive than dental bonding. Specific costs will depend on the current state of your smile, as well as your dental goals.

Post-Treatment Maintenance

Both bonding and veneers allow you to jump back into your normal routine; you can eat your favorite foods, and care for your smile normally. On the whole, porcelain is stronger than resin; however, resin can be repaired if and when it is damaged, while porcelain restorations need to be replaced.

One important difference between these two treatments is that, in order to place veneers our dental team needs to shave away existing tooth structure. For this reason, veneers treatment is sometimes not reversible.

If you want to learn more about any of your cosmetic dentistry treatments, including dental bonding and veneers, our Mill Valley cosmetic dentists are here to help—give us a call!