Our Santa Monica cosmetic dentist provides both dental bonding and dental veneer treatment in our office. These two treatments are incredibly versatile and useful. Today we are going to be talking about what these treatments can do, and how they compare to each other.
Before we get started, let’s quickly review the mechanics of dental bonding and veneers, respectively.
Dental bonding is a treatment that involves our dental team covering damaged or unsightly enamel with dental resin. The resin, once in place, is cured so that it hardens and bonds to the tooth. This treatment is used to achieve a number of aesthetic as well as structural results.
Dental veneers are actually individually crafted, thin porcelain restorations. Once the veneer is made, our team permanently attaches it to the patient’s natural tooth using dental bonding material. A dental veneer is designed to cover all of the patient’s visible tooth.
As you would imagine, dental bonding and dental veneers can actually be used to treat many of the same dental problems, like:
· Cracked and chipped enamel
· Discolored or dark teeth
· Gaps between teeth
· Short or poorly proportioned teeth
· Slightly misaligned smiles
When you are considering which treatment is right for you, keep in mind that:
· Dental bonding is less expensive than veneers
· Bonding treatment is completed in one appointment, while veneers generally take three different appointments to complete
· Veneers generally last slightly longer than dental bonding
· Bonding can be repaired if damaged, while dental veneers must be replaced if damaged
· Both bonding and veneers are resistant to staining
· Dental bonding is the more conservative treatment option, because it does not require our team to shave down your tooth structure before we apply the resin
Have questions about either of these treatments? Our Santa Monica dental team is here to help you make great decisions for your smile—just give us a call to get started!