Dental Bonding vs. Porcelain Veneers
The team at Verde Pointe Dental Associates offers numerous cosmetic dentistry procedures that can makeover your smile. Two of the most popular options for treatment include dental bonding to paint over smile flaws and tooth imperfections and porcelain veneers to conceal problems affecting the shape and surface of a tooth.
Many patients who come to our Marietta, GA practice wonder which procedure is better for them. Dr. Kirk Kimmerling and Dr. Garrick McGrath would like to briefly compare dental bonding and porcelain veneers below.
About Dental Bonding
Dental bonding involves the use of a tooth-colored dental resin that is painted directly onto a person’s tooth. This dental resin hardens during the procedure, masking imperfections, and making a person’s tooth look just like new. The resin is quite durable, meaning that patients can return to biting and chewing as they would normally after treatment is completed.
Dental bonding is able to enhance the overall appearance of a tooth, and remains minimally invasive while also quite effective with regard to aesthetics.
Problems That Dental Bonding Can Treat
Dental bonding is an effective treatment option for the following dental problems:
- Minor chips
- Minor cracks
- Dental stains
- Tooth discoloration
- Slight spacing issues
About Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin, versatile shells of dental ceramic that are designed to mask the front facing part of a tooth. A dentist carefully removes a little bit of the tooth’s enamel structure to accommodate the veneer, which is securely cemented in place.
Thanks to porcelain veneers, a tooth with major cosmetic flaws can look pristine and perfect. Patients can smile with confidence since the veneers blend in seamlessly with the other teeth.
Problems That Porcelain Veneers Can Treat
Porcelain veneers are effective at treating the following dental problems:
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Stains and discoloration
- Tooth gaps
- Smile asymmetry
- Crooked teeth
When Is Dental Bonding More Ideal?
Dental bonding is typically a more ideal option when the aesthetic problem affecting a patient’s smile is very minor. Given the nature of the treatment, dentists will use dental bonding when the tooth flaw is noticeable but has not impact on the overall structure. Since it is less invasive, that preserves more of a patient’s natural tooth structure, which is ideal.
When Are Porcelain Veneers More Ideal?
Porcelain veneers are more ideal when the aesthetic flaw that affects a smile is too substantial for bonding and whitening procedures to address. Again, the problems will be predominantly aesthetic in nature, but the use of veneers can significantly improve overall smile appearance. In fact, entire smile makeovers can be achieved through the use of porcelain veneers alone.
That said, if there are problems that affect the health of a tooth, more invasive and likely restorative procedures will be more ideal for the patient.
Creating a Custom Treatment Plan Just for You
Every patient is different, and there may be multiple problems to tackle all at once. Dentists can create a custom treatment plan that addresses numerous flaws that affect your smile. It would not be uncommon for a combination of dental bonding and porcelain veneers to be used to achieve the best results.
This is why in-person consultations are so essential for great dental treatment.
Learn More About Cosmetic Dentistry
To learn more about porcelain veneers and dental bonding, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic and restorative dentist. The team at Verde Pointe Dental Associates is here to help. You can reach our practice by phone at (770) 651-0991.
