Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding

A chip or crack on a tooth can make your smile look less appealing. In fact, it may even leave you feeling self-conscious about the condition of your teeth. Our New Jersey cosmetic dentist and the entire team here at the office understand just how much this can affect your appearance, which is why we offer a number of different cosmetic dentistry options. Two particularly popular treatments for chips and cracks on the teeth are porcelain veneers and tooth bonding. They have different applications, and in some cases one is preferable to the other for effective treatment. We’d like to take a brief moment to discuss the difference between the two.

Tooth bonding refers to the use of a special composite resin that is applied directly to the tooth to help patch up a crack or fix up a chip. This dental resin is color matched to your tooth so that is completely unnoticeable. (For damage to the biting surfaces of your teeth, you’re like to receive inlays and onlays, which are similar to tooth bonding.)

Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic shells that are affixed to the front facing surface of your teeth. Like tooth bonding, the New Jersey porcelain veneers are color matched with your teeth to make them as undetectable as possible. (For severe damage to a tooth, a dental crown is used instead of a porcelain veneer.)

So which is better: tooth bonding or porcelain veneers? It really depends on the dental problem being addressed and its severity. Minor chips on a tooth may be better addressed using tooth bonding, whereas porcelain veneers tend to be better suited to deal with larger chips and cracks. Tooth bonding is cheaper than porcelain veneers, however, so that may factor into certain decisions. That said, porcelain veneers are more durable, and they can also handle many other dental problems, such as minor unevenness and major stains.

For more information on porcelain veneers, tooth bonding, smile makeover treatments, and other dental care topics, be sure to contact our Fort Lee, NJ cosmetic dentistry office.