Veeners or bonding

Everybody wants that million-dollar smile. And cosmetic dentistry attempts to achieve just that. The two techniques that can be used to improve your smile are dental bonding versus dental veneers. While both can mask imperfections in teeth and can improve your smile, they are very different approaches. Below is a brief overview of the differences between dental bonding and veneers.

Dental Veneers

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that cover the fronts of teeth, somewhat like artificial fingernails. Veneers can cover up gaps between teeth and can hide crooked, stained, and misshapen teeth. Veneers are difficult to stain, thereby resulting in that perfect smile.

In order to place the veneers over your teeth, your dentist will first remove some enamel to allow for the added thickness of the veneer. Then a molded image of your teeth is sent to the dental lab, where veneers are made to fit exactly over your teeth. After this, the veneers are applied to the natural teeth with adhesive material.

There are two types of veneers: Porcelain (indirect) veneers and Composite (direct) veneers. The porcelain veneer is created in a dental lab and requires about two visits to the dentist.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that uses composite resin to mask imperfections in your teeth. It is perfect for someone who only needs minor touch-ups to their teeth. The resin is matched to the color of the patient’s teeth and applied freehand by the dentist. It is like putty and can be molded and shaped to cover up any and all imperfections. After this, a high-intensity light hardens the material, which is then finely polished.

While dental bonding does not have the translucent look of veneers, it can make chipped, discolored, or short teeth look better. Bonding can also be used to protect part of the tooth’s root that is exposed when the tooth recedes. No tooth preparation is needed for dental bonding.

Many people choose bonding over silver fillings because the former looks more natural and the material can be matched to your natural tooth color. However, bonding costs more than silver fillings, about US $300 to $600 per tooth.

How to look after your teeth after dental veneers or dental bonding

Veneers and dental bonding materials are not as strong as natural teeth, so dentists recommend that you avoid biting your nails, opening nuts with your teeth, or chewing on pens, ice, and other hard objects. This could result in veneers and dental bonding material chipping or falling off. With proper care, dental bonding usually lasts two to five years while veneers last substantially longer, for about, 10 – 15 years or more.

Bellevue Dental Health specializes in both veneers and dental bonding. Dr. Finnessy practices a full scope of general and cosmetic dentistry. Bellevue Dental Health can correct a wide variety of cosmetic dental problems and can help you redesign and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.

So, if you have cracked, chipped, stained, or misshapen teeth, do yourself a favor and contact Bellevue Dental Health for a consultation. They will work with you to create the perfect smile using the procedure that’s right for you.

For more information about dental veneers and dental bonding, contact Dr. Libbi Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.