Do you know that you want to create a more beautiful smile, but feel unsure how to best go about achieving those enhancements? A cosmetic dentist offers a number of treatment options for improving the brightness of your smile, but also for correcting disproportionately sized or shaped teeth. Some treatments can even effectively hide minor gaps between the teeth. Bonding and veneers are two particularly popular treatments, because of how comprehensively they can help to enhance the smile’s appearance. But which one is right for you? A consultation with your cosmetic dentist can help determine whether bonding or veneers would be more ideal for your smile and your situation.

What Makes Bonding So Appealing?

Bonding is generally faster and more affordable than porcelain veneers, but that is because it is completed using a less stain-resistant material than veneers. The composite resin a dentist uses to create bonding enhancements, is prized for its ability to bond well with teeth, and to blend seamlessly within the natural smile. It is also durable. However, it is not naturally stain-resistant, which means it can be come discolored over time. Patients that are regular coffee, tea or red wine drinkers, or tobacco users, may be advised against boding, as the resin could become stained relatively quickly.

The Added Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Veneers, on the other hand, are longer-lasting because the porcelain is similar to natural teeth enamel in both its strength and stain resistance. That is why dentists frequently recommend porcelain crowns as restorative treatments and even as prosthetic tooth replacement options.

While veneers can generally last for long periods of time, they are often more expensive initially. That is because the porcelain must be carefully crafted and then shipped to the dentist, whereas bonding is completed by the dentist, in office.