Dental Bonding vs. Porcelain Veneers: Choosing the Right Treatment
If the appearance of your teeth makes you too embarrassed to smile, you may benefit from dental bonding or porcelain veneers treatment. Dental bonding or porcelain veneers can give you a gorgeous smile by masking flaws and correcting imperfections. To see which treatment is right for you, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Albuquerque cosmetic dentist Timothy M. Kelly. Before your consultation, we offer this overview to help you understand the differences and similarities between dental bonding and porcelain veneers treatment.
What Is Dental Bonding Treatment?
Dental bonding is a cosmetic treatment designed to improve the appearance of the teeth. With dental bonding treatment, a putty-like resin is used to cover the front surface of the teeth. Once the resin is shaped to form the proper size and appearance, the resin undergoes a curing process. During the curing process, the resin is hardened to a durable finish. Next, the newly bonded tooth is further shaped and polished to create a perfect smile. Dental bonding can be used to correct dental imperfections, including color, size, shape, and minor damage.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are similar to dental bonding in that they are also designed to hide minor flaws and discoloration, as well as correct the shape and size of the teeth. Porcelain veneers are hard, tooth-shaped shells, generally made in a dental lab from impressions taken of the teeth. Two dental visits are usually needed; the first to make impressions of the treated teeth and the second to place the veneers. In order to place the veneers, a thin layer of the enamel is removed and a special dental cement is used to securely bond the veneers to the teeth.
Choosing the Right Treatment
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are very similar treatments used to achieve similar results. The treatment you decide on is best determined between you and your dentist. Here are just a few of the differences between both treatments to help you better understand each procedure.
- Tooth Preparation: Before dental bonding or porcelain veneers treatment, the tooth must be prepared. With dental bonding, the surface of the tooth is roughened with a chemical solution applied to the tooth's surface. Prior to the application of the porcelain veneers, a thin layer of the tooth's enamel must be removed to allow room for the veneer to sit on the tooth.
- Length of Treatment: Because porcelain veneers are custom made from impressions taken of the teeth, at least two dental visits are needed to complete treatment. Dental bonding treatment can be completed in a single dental visit since the bonding material is applied to the tooth at the same time it is shaped.
- Materials Used: Another difference between dental bonding and porcelain veneers is the type of material used. Dental bonding uses a special, moldable resin whereas porcelain veneers are made from ceramic porcelain. Both materials are extremely durable and allow for a natural looking finish.
Schedule a Consultation
For our patients in Albuquerque, porcelain veneers and dental bonding are both wonderful treatments to create beautiful smiles. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kelly to see which treatment is right for you.