What is the Difference Between Dental Bondng and Veneers?

While both dayton dental bonding and porcelain veneers achieve the same result, there are a couple of big differences you should consider before deciding which treatment will be best for you. In the section, we will discuss the main differences between composite dental bonding and porcelain veneers.

Dental Composite Bonding

Composite bonding is achieved through the application of a composite resin material onto the surface of a tooth. It is a less invasive procedure since, usually, no tooth structure has to be removed. Composite bonding is the same material that dentists use to fill cavities since it can be tinted to match your natural teeth.

In order to prepare a tooth for composite bonding when a cavity is involved, the decay is removed and the composite material put in its place to restore the structure and ensure the integrity of the tooth. For a tooth that is being prepared for bonding for aesthetic purposes, an etching solution is applied to the surface of the tooth and acts like sandpaper to roughen the surface of the enamel. This allows the composite bonding to adhere properly onto the surface of the tooth. Your dentist will shape the composite material before curing it with an ultraviolet light and making it almost as hard and strong as your natural teeth. Once the composite is cured, your dentist will smooth the composite perfectly and polish it to a natural-looking finish.

Dental composite bonding has the ability to last year‘s but in the case of a front tooth that has been bonded for aesthetic purposes, it may not last as long. We use our front teeth to bite into foods and bonding can chip if we bite into something hard or use our teeth as tools (no, no!). Dental bonding it’s considered medically necessary when it is used to restore a tooth that had decay which may allow some insurance benefits to be paid. Aesthetic composite bonding will not be covered under dental insurance. Per tooth, dental bonding can run between $250 and $600.

Porcelain Veneers

Unlike composite, a veneer covers the entire front surface of a tooth. The veneer is fabricated using a thin porcelain which is then adhered to the front of the tooth. Porcelain is much stronger than bonding and will not stain. If you have a tooth that has fractured vertically, composite bonding cannot repair it but a porcelain veneer can keep the tooth together and help you avoid extraction. Porcelain veneers can easily last a couple of decades and are a more permanent solution than dental bonding. Veneers do you require that some tooth structure be lost so that the veneer can fit over the tooth without sticking out. Per tooth, you can expect to pay between $900 and $2500. Insurance is very unlikely to cover the cost of porcelain veneers as they tend to be considered cosmetic by insurance companies.

The veneers are significantly more costly than bonding, you are likely to spend less in the long run on veneers then you are with bonding. Composite bonding on front teeth tends to need replacing every few years and that will quickly add up!

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry, speak with your dentist to determine if you would be better off with composite bonding or porcelain veneers. If you are one of thousands of patients who suffer from nightly bruxism (clenching and grinding), porcelain will be the safer bet. With either restoration, you might consider asking for a nightguard to protect your teeth in the night.

More on Dental Bonding : How Long Does Dental Bonding Last?