Dental Bonding And Porcelain Veneers

Both of these treatments can be used to restore damaged teeth. We take a look at the pros and cons of each of them.

Some dental problems are clearly solvable with a specific treatment but others may mean that a choice needs to be made between two or more treatments. One of these situations involves issues that can be resolved either by the use of bonding or by dental veneers. Each of these treatments has its merits and its negatives. In today’s blog, we will take a look at what these are.

In all situations, we welcome the input of patients who may have certain treatment preferences, we hope that you will also listen to the advice given to you by our experienced Bedford dentists. Years of training and experience means that they will be able to advise you of the most appropriate treatment route to take.

Dental issues

Before we look at the pros and cons of each of these treatments, let us take a look at what issues these can resolve. These include:

Enamel erosion – Where surface enamel has eroded due to wear or acid damage. This can lead to an increased risk in decay and also tooth sensitivity.

Restoring minor gaps – While orthodontics are often the best way to achieve this, small cosmetic gaps can sometimes be corrected in this way. For example, closure of a small gap between the top two front teeth, also known as a diastema.

Chipped teeth – providing that the dentin layer has not been exposed, both veneers and bonding can be used to aesthetically improve the appearance of chipped teeth.

Stained teeth – Stained or discoloured teeth can spoil an otherwise attractive smile and it is therefore no surprise that this is one of the most common cosmetic issues that we have to address at The Dental Centre Bedford, often with veneers or whitening.

Reshaping teeth – Sometimes a tooth may have an irregular shape and stand out from the rest. Both dental veneers and bonding can be used to correct this appearance.

As you can see, there are a number of issues that both of these treatments can be used for. Whilst in some cases, it may simply come down to a choice, in others your dentist may recommend one over the other for practical reasons.

Let us then take a look at the pros and cons of each of these treatments.

Dental bonding

Pros –

• This is usually a non-invasive treatment and simply requires the applying and shaping of the composite material into the desired shape to fit the tooth.
• Bonding is one of the less costly treatments and, where appropriate, may be a good choice for those on a tight budget.
• If a restoration using bonding becomes chipped or damaged, it is usually quick and straightforward to rectify.

Cons –

• Bonding is less durable than veneers and may become damaged and need to be replaced more frequently.
• Bonding uses a slightly porous material and therefore is prone to staining or discolouration quicker than porcelain veneers are.
• It can sometimes be more difficult to match the material to the colour of your natural teeth, and even where it can, it can change over time due to staining etc (see above).

Dental veneers

Pros –

• Veneers are often made from porcelain, a strong material and will damage less easily than bonding will.
• Once fitted, a veneer can last for around ten to fifteen years before it may need to be replaced.
• Veneers are highly resistant to staining as porcelain is non porous. Surface staining is possible though if you don’t clean them as you should.

They are natural looking once they have been placed, trimmed and polished. They should then blend in well with your natural teeth helping you to have a great looking smile.

Cons –

• Veneers often require a small but invasive treatment where a fine layer of affected tooth enamel is removed so that the veneer can be fitted
• Veneers are more expensive than bonding, but this should be weighed up against their practicality and longevity. It may prove to be cheaper in the long run
• The treatment time is longer than for bonding, however, providing that you take care of them, you shouldn’t need any further treatment on them for a long time.

As you can see, there will be much to discuss with the dentist when these are your treatment options. We always try to do our best for our Bedford patients, balancing the various factors to provide the best solution for your own situation and so that you can make an informed choice.

If your teeth feel sensitive or have cracks or chips in them, we recommend discussing this with your dentist so that an appropriate treatment plan can be put in place. To make an appointment at The Dental Centre Bedford, please call us today on 01234 819868.