Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding
Are you unhappy about the appearance of your smile? If you have made the decision to do something about it, look no further than the Philadelphia cosmetic dentistry practice of Dr. Bruce Wilderman: Artistic Expressions Dentistry. At Artistic Expressions Dentistry, we offer many aesthetic services to patients. Some of the most effective cosmetic dentistry procedures are dental bonding and porcelain veneers. The placement of porcelain veneers and application of dental bonding agents produces dramatic smile makeover results for our patients; with these treatments, Dr. Wilderman can hide dental flaws and create exceptionally beautiful smiles.
Porcelain Veneers
Fabricated from a solid piece of porcelain, veneers are milled to fit over the front and underside of the tooth, fully covering the visible parts of the tooth. Dr. Wilderman can determine if your veneers should augment tooth length to improve proportion, augment tooth width to close gaps or fill chips, or be made in a brighter shade of white to address discoloration.
Although porcelain veneers are an excellent treatment option for many patients, some patients prefer to undergo dental bonding treatment.
Dental Bonding
The dental bonding and porcelain veneers procedures share some similarities; in both of these treatments, the appearance of the natural tooth is masked to hide dental imperfections. Dental bonding treats many of the same cosmetic flaws as veneers, but the manner in which the procedure is performed is quite different. With dental bonding, a smooth, tooth-colored solution is applied to the teeth. The solution can be used to cover tooth stains or fill in small chips or gaps. Once the dental bonding agent has been applied and shaped, a specialized dental light is used to accelerate the hardening process of the bonding material. Once the bonding solution is sufficiently cured, Dr. Wilderman may apply additional layers, or refine and polish the tooth.
Suitable Candidates
In general, candidates for porcelain veneers have more extensive cosmetic problems, while dental bonding patients have minor aesthetic issues. Dental bonding is usually done on one or two teeth. When patients want to makeover all of the front facing teeth, Dr. Wilderman may recommend the use of porcelain veneers over dental bonding.
Cost
Dental bonding treatment is less expensive than porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers must be custom fabricated at an offsite laboratory, contributing to the increased cost of the procedure.
Length of Treatment
Since porcelain veneers must be crafted to the patient's unique specifications, the treatment process takes more time than that of dental bonding. Dental bonding treatment can be completed in one quick appointment that lasts about an hour. Porcelain veneers takes at least two appointments. During the first appointment, the teeth are prepared and an impression is taken; during the second appointment, which is a week or two later, the porcelain veneers can be secured to the teeth.
For our patients in Philadelphia, porcelain veneers and dental bonding offer excellent smile makeover results. Dr. Wilderman can examine your smile and advise you of your ideal treatment options. Contact Artistic Expressions Dentistry today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Wilderman.