Your teeth might not be as attractive as you want. You might not be satisfied with the color, shape, or gaps in or between your teeth. You might think you do not have the best teeth for that perfect smile, but are you giving up?
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are one of the best options for you. These cosmetic dental procedures will improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile. With these cosmetic procedures, you can smile without any hindrance.
However, you might have issues picking the cosmetic procedure that best suits you. Would you pick dental bonding or go for dental veneers? Are you confused about which cosmetic procedure will best improve your smile?
Here you will learn every essential detail from Dr. Martin, your University Charlotte area dentist, to clear your confusion about dental bonding and porcelain veneers.
What Is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding is a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment that uses tooth-colored resin (bonding material) to improve your smile. This resin material is applied and bonded to the teeth with the use of a special light.
If you need to repair chipped, cracked, or discolored teeth, then dental bonding is the suitable treatment for you. It is a cost-effective treatment as it is less expensive than several other cosmetic procedures like dental crowns.
Dental bonding can fix the imperfection in your smile, close small gaps, help with teeth whitening, and feels just like your natural teeth. Tooth bonding will help improve the appearance of your teeth. You should visit your cosmetic dentist to get the best teeth bonding.
Cost: $300 to $600 per tooth
Functions of Dental Bonding
Functions of teeth bonding include.
- Repairing decayed or decaying teeth
- Filling teeth cavities
- Repairing cracked or chipped teeth
- Closing spaces between teeth
- Improving the color and appearance of teeth
- Improving the shape of teeth
- Protecting the root of teeth that are exposed when gums recede
Pros
- Convenience: Dental bonding is one of the easiest cosmetic dental procedures. It does not require much time and you can get multiple teeth fixed with just one appointment.
- Low Cost: Tooth bonding is relatively cheap. It is less expensive than several other dental procedures.
- Low Invasiveness: Dental bonding does not affect your making any changes to your teeth. It does not require much removal of tooth enamel. So, if you change your mind about the treatment, you will still have your teeth in good shape.
- No Anesthesia: It does not usually require anesthesia unless filling cavities is involved. You can choose not to use anesthesia and still be fine with your daily activities.
- Versatility: Dental bonding can help fix several flaws in your teeth. It can take care of chips, discoloration, cracks, gaps, etc., just with one treatment.
Cons
- Durability: Dental bonding does not do much when it comes to durability. You might need to change it and replace it every 10 years.
- Stains: Another issue you can have with teeth bonding is staining. The resin tends to absorb the stain over time.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers, also known as porcelain veneers, are a dental treatment that includes the use of wafer-thin shells of tooth-colored materials to improve the appearance of your teeth. These shells are made from resin-composite materials and are attached to the front surface of the teeth.
The veneers are usually bonded to the teeth to improve their shape, color, or appearance. They are suitable for fixing chipped, discolored, broken, or uneven teeth. This dental procedure is irreversible.
Getting veneers requires grinding down the tooth structure, depending on your dental concerns. After preparing the teeth, the dentist then sends out a mold to the lab to create custom veneers that fit your teeth. In the meantime, you might use temporary veneers while waiting for the permanent ones.
There are different types of veneers:
- Porcelain veneers
- Composite veneers
- No-prep veneers
Veneers are more expensive than dental bonding, but you will find composite veneer less expensive than a porcelain veneer. You should visit your dentist to get the type of veneer that best suits you.
Cost: $925 to $2500 per tooth
Functions of Porcelain Veneers
Functions of porcelain veneers include:
- Fixing chipped or broken teeth
- Closing gaps in teeth
- Correcting uneven teeth
- Enhancing the appearance and color of teeth
- Fixing decayed or decaying teeth
Pros
- Tolerance: The gums tolerate porcelain well, making dental veneers a good choice of treatment.
- Natural Appearance: If you love to keep the feeling and appearance of natural teeth, then you are a candidate for veneers. The color of the veneers makes them indistinguishable from natural teeth.
- Stain Resistant: You do not need to worry about stains when using porcelain veneers as they do not get stained easily.
- Color Manipulation: Dental veneers can help change the color of darker teeth to whiter ones.
- Durability: Veneers are highly durable as they can last up to 20 years.
Cons
- Irreversibility: The use of dental veneers creates an irreversible process. This is because more enamel is removed to fit the needed shape.
- Expensive: Veneers are expensive. It will cost more to get dental veneers than to go for teeth bonding.
- High Sensitivity: Due to the removal of enamel, your teeth might become sensitive to cold and hot foods. You also should not bite on hard objects to keep the veneers from falling off (although this is not likely).
- Irreparability: Veneers are usually not repairable. Once they crack or chip, you might need to get another one.
Teeth Bonding vs. Veneers for University Charlotte Area Residents
Whether you go for bonding or veneers depends on your preference. If you are to consider cost, you would pick dental bonding, but if you want longevity and durability, then veneers would be your choice. Knowing your options and their details helps you make the best choice. Fortunately, Dr. Martin in the University Charlotte area can help you make the right choice of cosmetic dental procedure.
Winning Smiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry provides effective dental bonding and veneers in the University Charlotte area. You can contact us to book an appointment for our dental services.
