One of the most important things that our Santa Monica dentist does is to help our patients evaluate their treatment options, and, ultimately, choose the perfect one for them. Today we are getting started by comparing two popular and convenient treatments: dental bonding and custom veneers.
Uses
Veneers and dental bonding can be used to achieve many of the same dental goals, including:
- Resurfacing dark enamel
- Repairing dental damage
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Making the smile appear better aligned and seamless
- Lengthening disproportionally short enamel
Material
Veneers are individually crafted from porcelain. They are only as thick as a contact lens, which is why they do not look bulky once their placed. Porcelain is an ideal material for this type of treatment because it mimics the appearance of natural enamel, and it is stain-resistant.
Dental bonding, on the other hand, is made from composite resin. Our team will shade the resin to match your natural tooth shade. Or, if you are transforming your entire smile with bonding, we will color the resin to achieve your desired level of whiteness.
Application
Veneers take two or three appointments to fit and place. Your veneers will be crafted to your specifications. Our team will prep the enamel of relevant teeth by filing some of it down—this helps ensure a comfortable and natural looking fit once the veneer is in place.
Dental bonding takes just one appointment to complete. When our team applies the resin to your natural tooth structure it will be soft and malleable. We’ll shape it achieve your desired results, and then cure it with a special light so that it hardens and bonds to the tooth surface.
Our Santa Monica dental team is here to answer any questions that you may have, and to help you schedule a personal consultation. We look forward to speaking with you!