If you have a cosmetic imperfection in your teeth that you want to fix, two of the most popular options for restoration are bonding and veneers.
You may be unsure about which alternative is better for your situation, and you want to know: Is bonding as effective as veneers?
Here at Portrait Dental, we offer both treatment options. Here’s what we tell patients who are considering these procedures:
Bonding is a cosmetic procedure that uses a soft, tooth-colored resin to improve the appearance of chipped, cracked, misarranged, or discolored teeth.
First, we prepare your tooth for the procedure with some light etching. A bonding liquid is then added before the resin is applied like a thick putty and sculpted into the desired shape. After the resin hardens (sometimes with high-intensity light), it is trimmed, smoothed, and polished to match your natural teeth.
Veneers are thin ceramic shells that attach to your teeth to improve their appearance. They can also correct broken, chipped, or discolored teeth.
Dr. Minh Nguyen will shave a thin layer of enamel off your teeth to prepare them for veneers, then use putty to take impressions of your teeth, which are sent to a lab to create your custom veneers. You’ll return to the office a couple of weeks later to have the veneers installed.
So, is bonding more effective than veneers? That depends on what criteria are most important to you:
Regarding cost and speed, bonding is less expensive, and it’s faster than the process of obtaining veneers. (You’re done in just one visit.)
Both bonding and veneers are made to be the same shade as your natural teeth, so they blend in as much as possible. Over time, though, the resin used for bonding may darken, while the stain-resistant veneers will stay the same color. If you just need one chipped tooth fixed, bonding will be easier and faster; if you need multiple teeth straightened or whitened, veneers may be better to keep them all perfectly consistent.
Veneers are highly durable and will last up to 20-25 years if you care for them properly. Although the bonding material is strong, it isn’t as durable as veneers and will need to be replaced sooner.
If you’re considering bonding or veneers, Dr. Nguyen and our team at Portrait Dental will be your expert guides. Just call our office at 501-381-1621, or book an appointment online anytime!
