Cosmetic dentistry is seeing growth in popularity like never before. One of the reasons is that most people have one or the other aspect of their smiles that they would like to improve. Catering to these issues can help them smile a more confident smile. Moreover, whether you want a stain-free, white and bright smile or perfectly aligned teeth, with advancements in dental technology, cosmetic dentistry can help you get the smile you always desired.
Two of the most popular choices when it comes to transforming your smile are dental bonding and veneers. Both of these treatments can address cosmetic issues such as cracks, chips, discolouration, gaps, and more albeit at different levels. Also, both of them have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. It becomes a tricky question to ask if you are a better candidate for dental bonding or dental veneers.
To help you with that decision, here we have discussed both these treatments in brief along with several factors worth considering before you choose from either of the treatments.
Understanding Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a procedure wherein a tooth-coloured composite resin is applied to the surface of the tooth to be treated. Once the resin hardens, your dentist will polish and shape the tooth to get the desired look. This procedure has been around for several years. It is a rather simple and cost-effective treatment to correct imperfections such as a chipped tooth, minor gaps and spacing, and tooth decay among others. It generally takes only a single dental visit to complete this procedure.
Depending upon the amount of bonding required and your overall dental care routine, dental bonding can last up to 5 to 7 years.
Understanding Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are more of a premium cosmetic solution wherein a wafer-thin porcelain material is placed over your teeth. These porcelain chips are custom-made to fit your teeth and are of colour and shape that blends in with the surrounding teeth. Dental veneers can be used to cover one discoloured or chipped tooth, or several teeth at a time depending upon your requirement.
This is a slightly invasive procedure where a small amount of your tooth enamel is permanently removed for a veneer shell to fit perfectly in place. Dental veneers don’t stain at all and typically last around 10 years or more with adequate maintenance.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing Between Bonding and Veneers
The following factors can be helpful and are worth considering to make the right choice between dental bonding and veneers.
Desired Goals
Although bonding and veneers both cater to similar issues, there are considerable differences when you look closer at treatable concerns. Bonding, for instance, makes more sense when only a single tooth requires fixing. Veneers, on the other hand, are best suitable when you are looking to transform your entire smile or for improving more pronounced concerns.
Durability
As mentioned already, bonding has a relatively shorter lifespan when compared to veneers. Moreover, dental bonding is susceptible to stains and chipping. Veneers are much more durable with a lifespan of 10-15 years and are immune to stains. However, they too require proper maintenance to increase their lifespan.
Appearance
Both veneers and bonding are designed to look like your teeth. However, veneers are more translucent and natural-looking as compared to bonding, as they are custom-made to match your teeth. Moreover, veneers are stain-resistant while bonding is not.
Tooth Preparation
Bonding is a non-invasive treatment and hence, doesn’t require any tooth preparation. Veneers, on the other hand, require removing a small amount of enamel to blend with your teeth seamlessly.
Cost
Because of the difference in the material used for both treatments, porcelain veneers are more expensive as compared to the bonding that uses a composite resin. However, you will also need to consider that bonding is comparatively less durable and may break or stain. It may require subsequent visits more frequently. Veneers, however, are highly durable and stain-resistant. As a result, veneers may prove to be cost-effective in the longer run.
Still, to put things into a clearer perspective, dental bonding can cost anywhere from £200 to £500, while veneers generally cost upwards of £1200 approximately.
The Conclusion
Considering all the factors mentioned above, we can say that dental bonding is a more suitable option when you need treatment for minor issues such as a chipped tooth, mild discolouration, or tooth decay. Bonding is ideal when you need to improve one or two teeth, or when you are looking for a more affordable alternative. Veneers, on the other hand, are more suitable when you have severely stained teeth, or looking to makeover your entire smile as a long-term solution.
Your dentist is the best person to guide you to make the right choice as per your individual needs. If you need to consult a reliable dental professional who can suggest you the most appropriate solution, we at Complete Smiles comprise a team of highly qualified and experienced dental professionals. We strive to provide you with the best dental services possible with the use of the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology. We cater to all dental and oral issues involving general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, dental implants, and more.
To book an appointment with us, call us at 020 4541 1150. You can book your appointment online too.
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