If you’re ready to upgrade your grin and correct dental flaws that leave you feeling embarrassed and insecure to show off your teeth, you may be curious about your options. For people looking to address issues like deep stains, uneven wear, chips, and even minor spacing problems like gaps or triangles between teeth, the choice between veneers and cosmetic dental bonding can be a tough call. But the truth is, although they often achieve similar results, these cosmetic dentistry treatments are very different. Here’s a closer look at both, and what each is best for.
Veneers
Veneers are thin shells (usually made of porcelain) that fit over the teeth to cover a variety of dental flaws including stains, chips, uneven wear, and small spacing problems. They can even change their shade, giving you a gleaming, glowing grin that is stain-resistant, so you can enjoy a full diet without having to forgo your favorite foods and beverages!
To get veneers, your dentist will need to remove a small amount of enamel from each of your teeth. This is to ensure that the restorations fit properly and don’t take up too much room in your mouth. With proper care, these durable prosthetics can last for up to 20 years, but because of the enamel removal they are considered irreversible. This means that you’ll always need either a veneer or a dental crown on any teeth prepared this way going forward.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Cosmetic dental bonding is made with the same exact durable, lifelike composite resin your dentist uses in tooth-colored fillings to rebuild damaged areas, close small gaps, make teeth appear longer, or cover deep stains.
Although cosmetic dental bonding only lasts about five years, it’s often considered a more affordable alternative to veneers, but it has some key differences. For starters, because your dentist can apply the bonding material directly to your teeth without the need to remove any enamel, it is not only reversible, but completely painless. It can also typically be completed in just one appointment, making it ideal for patients on a tight schedule.
Decisions, Decisions
Now that you know the key differences between these two incredible cosmetic dentistry treatments, it’s time to make your choice. Veneers are ideal for patients with more time, a larger budget, and who have more dental flaws to cover.
Conversely, cosmetic dental bonding is an excellent choice for patients looking to repair just one or a few teeth with minor damage or discoloration. Because they are made to match your existing teeth, they won’t change the overall shade of your smile, so they’re better suited to covering individually stained teeth that already stand out, not redoing all the teeth visible in your smile like veneers.
No matter which option you choose, the important thing to understand about both treatments is that they are safe, effective, long-lasting ways to improve the appearance of your smile. Depending on your individual timeline, budget, and goals, each procedure can help you achieve the look you’ve been dreaming of. To learn more about your options and get expert advice about which treatment is ideal for your own gorgeous grin, schedule a consultation with your dentist today!
About Our Practice
At Alpharetta Modern Dentistry, our team of talented dentists, Dr. Labastida and Dr. Kakadia, want you to have a smile that makes you happy! That’s why we’re proud to offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments designed to give you the gorgeous, glowing grin you desire. Whether you know exactly what you want or are having trouble deciding between choices like veneers and cosmetic dental bonding, our duo is happy to help! To schedule a consultation to discuss your options, visit our website or call us today at 470-683-6271.