Dental bonding or veneers

This image is a collage of different people. The upper left is of an asian chinese female walking with her walking aid recovering and helped by her daughter The second is a shot of a young couple hiking through the mountains during a cold and fresh day. Both having a backpack and bottle of water while having an outdoor adventure. The bottom image is a portrait of a mother with her little daughter. They are sitting on the sofa at home, looking at camera.

If you’re not happy with your smile because of stained, chipped, decayed, or crooked teeth, your dentist can help. Dental bonding and veneers are cosmetic dental treatments that can help you feel better about your smile and yourself. They can fix broken or chipped teeth, close gaps, or change the color, shape, or size of your teeth. Both dental bonding and porcelain veneers treat common cosmetic imperfections of teeth, but while there’s overlap in what both offer, each has unique characteristics.

Dental bonding

If your teeth don’t need extensive treatment, consider dental bonding. The procedure involves applying a tooth-colored resin to your teeth, which is then hardened with a special light. The resin applied to the tooth’s surface is very durable and made to match the color of existing teeth—it almost becomes part of your teeth and makes for long-lasting and natural results.

You should consider dental bonding if you want to:

  • Improve discolored teeth

  • Close small gaps between teeth

  • Repair chipped, cracked, or decayed teeth

  • Improve the shape or length of teeth

  • Protect areas on the teeth exposed from a receding gumline

Practical advantages of dental bonding include the following:

  • It can be completed in a single appointment

  • It may not require anesthetic

  • It may not require the removal of the existing tooth surface

  • It strengthens the tooth

  • It is less expensive than veneers

  • Longevity—with proper care, bonding can last up to 15 years

Dental veneers

Veneers are thin layers of tooth-colored, composite resin (plastic) or porcelain applied over the front of your teeth that look like natural teeth. They provide better visual improvements because the porcelain material covers the entire tooth’s surface; however, preparation of the tooth (e.g., teeth grinding) for veneers is irreversible, so you and your dentist should discuss whether veneers offer the best solution to improve your appearance.

You should consider veneers if:

  • Whitening by a dental professional hasn’t removed heavy yellow, brown, or tan stains on your teeth

  • You want to conceal minor orthodontic problems

  • The tops of your teeth are flat and dull due to constant grinding or clenching, and you want more stability for chewing

  • You have enamel abrasion or erosion

  • Broken or damaged teeth make it difficult to eat or speak

Before you get veneers, you should consider the following:

  • Veneers don’t change color, so this can lead to differences in the appearance of your smile when the rest of your teeth naturally change over time; however, regular visits to the dentist can help you stay on top of this issue.

  • Porcelain is delicate, so veneers are more prone to chipping and cracking than crowns or fillings. If you bite your nails, grind your teeth, or chew on ice, veneers may not be the best solution if you can’t break those habits.

  • Teeth can still decay under a veneer, potentially leading to root canals and crowns. Veneers should not be used if you have a history of weakened enamel, gum disease, or other dental conditions.

Veneers typically last seven to 15 years before they need to be replaced.

Check your plan’s benefits to see if veneers or dental bonding are covered.