Choosing the right dental treatments for you doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. Our Mill Valley dentists are here to walk you through all of your treatment options, so that you are able to move forward with treatment confidently. With that in mind, we have put together this explanation of how dental veneers and dental bonding compare. Let’s get started!
Dental bonding and veneer treatment are somewhat similar in that they both use restorative dental materials to cover natural enamel; this effectively transforms the appearance of the treated tooth.
However, to that end, bonding uses composite resin, while veneers are crafted from porcelain. Both of these materials are customizable, so they can be shaded to match the patient’s specific tooth shade. Something to keep in mind that is the composite resin that we use in dental bonding can be repaired if it becomes damaged, while porcelain veneers need to be replaced completely.
The process for placing veneers is also quite different than dental bonding. During dental bonding our dentist applies malleable resin to the tooth surface, and then shapes and refines it to look natural. Once it’s perfect, we cure the resin so that it hardens and bonds to the tooth structure. Porcelain veneers are individually crafted before they are applied. These restorations are about as thin as a contact lens. So, once we place the veneer on the tooth it looks natural and unobtrusive.
Because porcelain veneers are individual restorations, it takes longer to complete veneer treatment than it does to complete dental bonding. Dental bonding is actually done, from start to finish, in just one appointment. You’ll need two to three appointments to have your veneers placed, as we have to wait for your veneers to be made prior to placing them.
As always, our Mill Valley cosmetic dentists are happy to answer any additional questions that you may have about cosmetic dentistry treatments, including veneers and dental bonding. Give us a call to speak to our team!