Dental Bonding vs Veneers: Which Is Right for You?

Having broken, chipped or crooked teeth fixed is as simple as choosing the right cosmetic dentistry procedure.

With the availability of cheap cosmetic dentistry in Ireland now, many people are looking to improve their teeth and their smiles. There are a number of ways of going about this — methods that are quick and painless and won’t break the bank.

Among the most popular are dental bonding and veneers, which can be completed in just one visit to the dentist. But when you weigh up dental bonding vs veneers, how do you know which of these cosmetic dentistry options is the best one for you?

Your dentist can certainly give you advice about what’s right for you to improve your teeth and smile. But before you get there, it’s helpful to have some knowledge of your own, so you know the pros and cons ahead of time and are better placed to have that discussion about cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Dental Bonding Benefits

Dental bonding is a simple and quick solution for teeth not in the best condition or shape — and it’s cheap cosmetic dentistry that won’t set you back all that much. Essentially, dental bonding involves the placement of a type of resin on teeth that’s then shaped and hardened. Its’ colour will match those of your natural teeth so that it won’t look out of place.

Dental bonding is suitable for teeth broken due to accidents or that have chips or cracks in them. It can also help close big gaps between teeth that people may not like and wished to be rid of. Dental bonding can also cover roots exposed due to receding gums. Teeth that are crooked or not uniform in length can benefit from dental bonding, and it can restore teeth to their former white by masking minor stains.

Dental bonding is the ideal solution for people with small defects or damage they would like to have repaired.

Dental Bonding vs Veneers

Veneers differ from dental bonding in that strips of porcelain are used to correct teeth, instead of resin. These strips are placed over the front of teeth and have the effect of making them appear straight and uniform. Veneers can be dazzlingly white, or several shades lower, depending on what you choose from your dentist.

A major difference between dental bonding and veneers, however, lies in their preparation. Whereas with dental bonding, the resin is only placed on teeth to make them look better and nothing else is altered, with veneers, the teeth are filed back to make space for the porcelain prosthetics. The amount of original tooth removed is not all that much — far less than with another type of cosmetic dentistry, crowns. Once the veneers are bonded into place, you won’t have to worry about food and drinks discolouring them, because porcelain is not only hard-wearing but also generally stain-resistant.

You can also have veneers in just one appointment, as long as your dentist has the right equipment. At The James Clinic, we have CEREC technology that allows us to scan your teeth, design veneers that are a perfect corrective match for them — and make your veneers straight away. We use an on-site milling machine that can also refine the veneers as necessary.

So, looking at dental bonding vs veneers, what we advise is, if you have minor damage or natural issues with your teeth — like gaps or crooked teeth — dental bonding is probably the right answer. But if it’s a more dramatic transformation you’re after, to give you that beaming celebrity smile you’ve always dreamed of, veneers may be the right choice.

If you’d like to discuss which cheap cosmetic dentistry option is right for you — including dental bonding and veneers — contact The James Clinic today and we will be happy to advise.