What is the Difference Between Dental Bonding and Veneers?

Cosmetic dentistry is a method of professional oral care that focuses on improving and maintaining the appearance of your teeth. While cosmetic dentistry is often seen as elective rather than essential, there are a number of procedures that provide restorative benefits as well. Two main procedures that help repair and strengthen your teeth are dental bonding and veneers. Below are a few examples of procedures that go into both methods.

1. Inlays and Onlays

When a tooth has mild to moderate decay or insufficient tooth structure to support a filling, dentists may elect to apply indirect fillings known as inlays and outlays to the tooth. An inlay is an indirect filling that is placed directly onto the tooth’s surface. In order to use an inlay, there needs to be no damage to the tooth’s cusp. If there is damage to the tooth’s cusp or a more significant portion of the tooth is damaged, the dentist may elect to use an onlay. Onlays wrap the entire surface of the tooth.

To apply an inlay or onlay, the dentist applies an adhesive dental cement to secure the indirect filling onto the damaged tooth. These procedures provide numerous benefits to the tooth besides cosmetics, including strengthening the tooth, restoring the tooth to its proper shape, and avoiding any further decay or deterioration.

2. Composite Bonding

One of the least expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures to deal with tooth decay, chipped or cracked teeth, discoloration, and worn-down edges is to use composite bonding. This procedure involves the dentist first drilling out the tooth decay. Then, the dentist applies a tooth-enamel colored material onto the tooth’s surface. From there, the dentist then sculpts the material to give the tooth a proper form before curing the material with a high-intensity light. This procedure effectively covers the tooth damage while giving the appearance of a healthy tooth.

3. Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are custom-made caps made of medical-grade ceramic that go over natural teeth and can remedy a multitude of problems. These problems range from structural issues like crooked teeth or teeth with gaps to integral issues like cracked teeth or teeth with damaged enamel.

4. Teeth Whitening

Over time, teeth become stained and worn from food, drinks, medication, and personal habits like smoking. To combat this, dentists will first remove plaque, tartar, and other debris from each tooth’s surface. Then, the teeth can be whitened with a bleaching agent. Patients can achieve a similar effect using certain toothpastes in one to two weeks, with optimal results within four weeks.

5. Implants

If a tooth becomes severely damaged or lost, a dentist might install an implant into the mouth. This procedure involves inserting a small titanium screw into the jaw at the spot of the missing tooth, which serves as the support for a new crown. During the implant placement period, diligent oral hygiene must be practiced to clean plaque and food debris from the area.