What’s the Difference Between Dental Bonding and Veneers?

Dental Bonding at brechon dental is a new and affordable way to repair damaged, chipped, or cracked teeth. It can also be used to reshape or realign your smile, or fix gaps in your teeth. Veneers are used when the surface area of the tooth is damaged, or not aesthetically desirable, but the root is strong. Both options are great to consider when you are looking to repair the aesthetic appeal of your teeth, but each has specific advantages for the patient.

What is Dental Bonding? What does the Dental Bonding Process entail?

Dental bonding is the process of applying composite and bonding agent to an otherwise healthy tooth structure. It is made of tooth-like material, and involves shaping by the applicator dentist. The material is applied to clean, healthy tooth material, and then shaped. The dentist then applies ultraviolet light to dry the material, and if necessary reshapes the material again. The Bonding Agent is then set, and you are free to enjoy the rest of your day with your new smile. The entire process usually takes about an hour of your time, and the dental bonding will last you anywhere from 3 to 10 years with proper care and maintenance. The process includes

  • Cleaning your teeth, and removing decayed or unhealthy tooth material
  • Applying composite or resin
  • Shaping
  • Drying with UV light, and reshaping
  • Setting Bonding Agent

What are Veneers? What does the Veneer Process entail?

Dental Veneers are made of high quality porcelain and usually replace multiple teeth. They are the ideal option for aesthetic, as the material is high shine/gloss and gives a great look. The material is usually bonded to a healthy tooth, which has material removed to allow the veneer cap to attach. The process of removing the tooth material can be painful and will require local anesthetic. It will be irreversible, once you have veneers you will live with them for the rest of your life. However, they are perfect teeth replacements and simply need to be cared for like any other tooth. Oftentimes the Dentist will remove the tooth material, preparing your teeth for the veneers, and then make a mold which is sent out to model your veneers. You can use temporary veneers in place while you wait for your permanent ones to arrive. When the permanent veneers arrive they will be set in place using cement or a bonding agent for secure placement. Some dentist use high tech modeling technology and can create your veneers in the office while you wait.

The process includes

  1. Removing surface tooth material
  2. Creating Veneer caps to place over the exposed tooth root structure
  3. Creating Veneers
  4. Applying Veneers and setting permanently
  5. Caring for Veneers as regular teeth

What is right for you?

It will depend on your situation, the time you have available, how many teeth you want replaced, and your dentist’s recommendation. Begin by seeing your dentist and discussing your options. Be sure to have them give you a complete dental cleaning and review current dental x rays before proceeding in either direction.

Gap Between Teeth? Fix with Dental Bonding