What Is the Difference Between Dental Bonding and Veneers?
Raleigh Dental bonding is a procedure that addresses chipped, fractured, decayed, or discolored teeth. Bonding can also address gaps between teeth and can change the overall shape, color and size of your teeth. Dental bonding is considered an affordable and relatively painless dental procedure that can generally be performed in just one visit.
Veneers are similar in nature to bonding in that they are also used to address chipped, fractured, decayed, or discolored teeth and have an immediate impact on improving the aesthetic appearance of your smile. Veneers are custom made and fall into two types:
- Composite (direct) veneers: Composite veneers involve bonding enamel to your tooth, and can generally be performed in one visit. This type of veneer is typically more affordable, but will not last as long as porcelain veneers.
- Porcelain (indirect) veneers: Porcelain veneers are designed in a laboratory to match your specific teeth. This process requires at least two visits and will cost more than composite veneers. Porcelain veneers last longer than composite veneers, averaging 10-15 years or more.
The Dental Bonding Process
The dental bonding process begins with your dentist selecting the composite color that best matches your surrounding teeth. Once this is determined, your dentist will clean and dry the tooth or teeth being bonded. Next, your dentist will use an isolation technique to prevent moisture from interfering and apply a solution to the surface of your teeth, which will strengthen the bonding. Once the solution is removed (usually after 15 seconds), liquid adhesive and bonding will be applied until the appropriate thickness has been achieved. Once the resin is set, your dentist will clean, polish, and adjust the bonding so it matches your natural bite. This process generally only takes one or two hours, though more severe cases or instances that require bonding for multiple teeth may take longer or require multiple visits.
The Porcelain Veneers Process
Getting porcelain veneers generally requires three appointments. At your initial appointment, your dentist will take X-rays of your teeth and mouth and perform a thorough examination to determine if veneers are right for you. At your next appointment, your dentist will prepare your teeth by removing enamel from the tooth or teeth to make room for the thin shell that will be placed at your next appointment. This process is generally relatively painless, but anesthesia may be offered.
Following this, an impression will be taken to determine the appropriate shape and proper shade of the veneer to match the rest of your natural teeth. Once these have been determined, your restorations will be made by lab technicians. At your next visit, your dentist will clean and polish your teeth, and then try the veneers in place. If everything looks and fits properly, then your dentist will bond the restorations into their proper position.
Which Procedure is Right for Me?
Dental bonding is faster and cheaper, but only lasts around 5 to 8 years. Veneers are more expensive, but can last up to 20 years. Unlike bonding, veneers have the additional benefit of not being as susceptible to staining. Fortunately, dental bonding and porcelain veneers are both good solutions for improving the look and feel of your natural teeth, but which approach is best for you will have to be determined by you and your dentist.
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