Bonding or Veneers? Which Should I Choose?

Dealing with teeth issues that affect your smile can be stressful. 

You’re tired of the way your smile looks, and you just want to fix it, but you aren’t sure of the right method, you don’t think fixing it will work for you, and you’re worried about how much a new smile will cost.

The good news is that fixing problems with your teeth may be easier than you think thanks to advances in modern dentistry. Bonding and veneers are techniques Dr. Minh Nguyen at Portrait Dental can implement to repair your teeth. Here’s information to help you know which one to choose.

How bonding works

With dental bonding, Dr. Nguyen uses a tooth-colored composite resin to repair chips, fill in cracks, or cover other small gaps or flaws in your teeth. He’ll rough up the surface of your tooth to ensure a better bond and then apply the resin like a thick putty to your those surfaces.

The resin will eventually harden on its own, but Dr. Nguyen speeds up the process with a high-intensity light to harden it more quickly and bond the material to the tooth.

Bonding is a minimally invasive procedure that only takes one visit, requires no anesthesia or downtime, and leaves your teeth looking as good as new — no one will be able to tell the difference.

How veneers work

Veneers operate under the same principle of hiding flaws, but the procedure is different. Veneers are very thin layers of porcelain that Dr. Nguyen can affix to the front of your teeth to make them look uniform — the veneers are color-matched to the exact shade of your natural teeth. They can cover cracks, chips, discoloration, and more.

At the first dental visit, we take impressions of your teeth and send them to a lab to provide the mold for the permanent veneers. You’ll get a set of temporary veneers until the permanent ones are ready. Keep in mind you may need to have some of the enamel of your teeth scraped off to provide a better area for adhesive. 

You’ll end up with a bright uniform smile and natural-looking teeth that will make a huge difference in your life.

Which is right for you?

If you only have one or two small repairs that need to be made to your teeth, bonding is likely the better method for you. You’ll get quick results that will substantially improve your appearance.

If you need more of a smile overhaul, veneers may be the way to go. Veneers offer a more dramatic change to your smile because they can fix a host of issues, including discoloration and staining, chipped or cracked teeth, large gaps between teeth, and worn, overlapping, or crooked teeth.

If you need to know more about how bonding or veneers can improve your smile, our team at Portrait Dental is here to help. Just call our Katy, Texas office, or use our online scheduler to make an appointment today.