Bonding Or Veneers?

Cosmetic bonding and veneers are two of the most common options for repairing damaged, misaligned, or irregularly shaped teeth. Here are some facts about these smile-transforming treatments that you should consider if you’re thinking about improving your smile. Keep reading to learn more!

Veneers: The Facts

Veneers are thin porcelain shells custom created to your ideal tooth shape and shade. They can address mild and moderate problems like gaps, discoloration, cracks, and irregularly shaped teeth. Veneers can correct fairly prominent issues due to their custom molding, but this does mean they take more than one appointment to complete. 

Normally, your first appointment for veneers will be to take X-rays, prepare your teeth, and create digital impressions. Your second appointment will be to apply the permanent veneers once they’ve arrived at our office. Veneers require some preparation to ensure they lie flat against your teeth and don’t protrude. We will provide temporary veneers after your first appointment to protect your prepared teeth until your permanent ones arrive. 

Once your permanent veneers are in place, your dentist will fine-tune the fit to ensure they look completely natural and meet your expectations. With proper care, your veneers will stay beautiful for ten years or longer.

Bonding: The Facts

For cosmetic bonding, we apply a tooth-colored resin to the tooth. Then, we mold it to fit the desired shape. Bonding is great for minor imperfections like cracks, discoloration, and small gaps. We can usually complete the process in one visit since it’s minimally invasive and doesn’t require dental impressions. However, this does mean that dental bonding is somewhat limited in its scope, as it cannot tackle larger issues like veneers can.

We use cosmetic bonding to hide flaws and also to fill cavities. The bonding material is strong and stable, and looks far more natural than silver amalgam. Many of our patients elect to replace their metal fillings with dental bonding for a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Dental bonding can last for up to 10 years with good oral hygiene.

Which One Is Right For You?

There’s some overlap in what cosmetic bonding and veneers can do. Generally, veneers are recommended for larger or multiple issues. With smaller issues, it’s usually best to stick with quick and convenient bonding. Consulting with our expert cosmetic dentistry team will help you understand which treatment will best achieve the changes you want to make in your smile.

Call our office located in Toledo, OH today to schedule an appointment. We’d love to hear from you!