What are veneers?
Veneers are porcelain ceramic restorations that are custom made for individual teeth. They usually cover the outside surface of the teeth, towards the lips, and sometimes extend in between the teeth and on the biting surface. In order to create aesthetic and long-lasting veneers, some preparation of the tooth is required.
Veneers are usually made by layering porcelain, which leads to a very natural look while giving it strength after it is bonded on the tooth.
The individual veneer is then bonded to the surface of the tooth, which allows the person to floss normally and to be able to care for them properly.
What is bonding?
Bonding is when composite resin material is used to build the tooth, usually on the outside surface of the tooth towards the lips. The tooth is usually prepared to create retention form, then composite resin is bonded in layers. Bonding is usually done chairside, which means to temporary phase, as is the case with the veneers.
The bonded resin is then polished. After bonding, the patient is still able to floss and clean the teeth as they would previous to bonding.
What is the difference between bonding and veneers?
Porcelain veneers do not shrink, do not stain and are usually very strong and do not chip/fracture. So, for an adult with specific aesthetic goals or if a significant part of the tooth is missing, then veneers are a great option.
Bonding is a great option for children, who are still growing and the teeth and the gingiva are not in their more stable position. It is also a great immediate restoration done chairside, so there is not temporary phase. However, composite resin does shrink. The shrinkage can lead to staining that is visible after a few months or years. Veneers can also stain at the margins, but if preparation is done properly, the margins are under the gingival and towards the palate so they are not visible. Veneers do not shrink.
Bonding is also not as strong as porcelain veneers, thus they are more prone to fracturing. Most individuals have to replace bonding every few years for aesthetic reasons or if the bonding fractures.
So, which is better? Veneer or bonding?
Both veneers and bonding are great ways to restore a tooth or to achieve certain aesthetic results. Veneers do not shrink, do not stain and can be made to reach specific aesthetic results. Bonding is immediate, less expensive, and can be a great shorter-term solution.