Veneers vs Bonding vs Crowns – What is Right for Me?

Many patients have questions concerning what the best treatment options are out there to enhance their smiles and oral health. Typically, there are three kinds of treatment options that are available for patients to restore their teeth: veneers, bonding and crowns. It is important to understand the difference in these three options before finalizing any decision. With the help of a dentist, you should be able to receive proper insight of which treatment is best for you and your smile!

What are my options?

For patients that may be looking for something to enhance aesthetics, veneers may be a good option for you to consider. A veneer is a thin covering that is placed over the front part of the tooth. Generally, they are placed on upper front teeth to satisfy a patient who may deal with tooth discoloration, poorly shaped teeth, gaps between front teeth or crookedness of teeth. Patients may also opt for veneers for other reasons pertaining to chipped or worn teeth.

More importantly, there are two types of veneers available, ceramic veneers (often referred to as laminates) and resin-based composite veneers (also called bonding). Ceramic veneers are extremely thin and comprised of a strong dental ceramic. Essentially, ceramic veneers fit tightly over the natural tooth like a thin glove. For ceramic veneers to be placed permanently, it may take a few visits for this to occur. Impressions must be taken (in order to ensure optimum fit) for ceramic veneers and the impressions must be sent to a laboratory to prepare the veneer properly.

“Bonding” or a resin-based composite veneer is a bit different than a ceramic veneer. Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored resin (plastic) to restore a decayed, cracked, or chipped tooth. Essentially, “bonding” is the same procedure that takes place during a “filling” and the resin can be used in place of an “amalgam filling.”

A large benefit of bonding is that it is a procedure that can be done in a single dental visit unlike ceramic veneers. It is also one of the cheaper alternatives of cosmetic dental procedures. The resin can be shaped and polished to replicate your natural surrounding teeth. More often than not, “bonding” is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth.

For patients that may have teeth that veneers or bonding cannot properly fix, a “crown” could be your best option. Essentially, a “crown” is a cover that your dentist may put on a tooth. Like a veneer, it fits over a natural tooth like a glove. However, it is not as thin as a veneer. The purpose of a crown is to make a tooth stronger or to improve aesthetics. A crown can help strengthen a tooth with too large of a cavity for a filling, help attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that may already be broken. CEREC Same Day Crowns are even good for covering teeth that may be discolored, badly shaped or are a dental implant.

Which option should I choose?

If you are having trouble deciding on veneers, bonding or a crown, do not make the decision alone! There are many factors that go into making this kind of decision and those of us at Wells Family Dental Group want to offer the professional insight that you may need. Located in Raleigh, NC, we offer patient consultations and evaluations in order to ensure the best treatment for you and your smile. Please contact us today to schedule your appointment and we look forward to seeing you soon.