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Learn more about the differences between dental veneers and composite bonding.

The Differences Between Dental Veneers and Composite Bonding

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For patients who want to improve the appearance of their smiles by creating a brighter, smoother look, there are plenty of options. Two common treatments to consider are dental veneers and composite bonding. And while these two treatments are similar and yield comparable results, there are also some significant differences to be aware of.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Many people are often left baffled when they see picture-perfect smiles on TV. But quite often, the secret behind those perfect smiles is dental veneers. This cosmetic dental treatment can provide a straight, bright smile for patients looking to improve the look of their teeth.

Dental veneers are small layers of porcelain added to the surface of the teeth, typically just on the teeth that are visible when smiling. It’s often used to cover up cracks, uneven spacing, stains or to simply brighten up a patient’s smile.

What Is Composite Bonding?

As an alternative to dental veneers, composite bonding is a process that uses dental fillings to improve the appearance of the surface of a tooth. The material used for composite bonding is softer and doesn’t typically cover the whole tooth surface. Instead, it can fill in cracks or holes, making a tooth look smoother. The material is also matched to the color of the tooth to create a uniform appearance.

Pros and Cons of Dental Veneers

For patients willing to commit to getting dental veneers, it is a highly effective and long-lasting option for optimizing the way their smile looks. You can both improve the color of your teeth and optimize the shape of the surface for a smile that is symmetrical and bright. The use of porcelain also results in improved durability while making your teeth more resistant to staining.

While some may not consider it a downside, it should be noted that getting dental veneers is a permanent alteration to the teeth. The procedure often requires removing the surface level of the enamel (although minimal) so the veneers don’t appear too large. But for patients who have cavities, old fillings, or severe staining, losing some of their old enamel may not be much of a concern for them.

Pros and Cons of Composite Bonding

Composite bonding is less expensive than getting dental veneers and isn’t nearly as much of a permanent commitment, which may be preferred by some patients.

While composite bonding will last a significant amount of time, it won’t be quite as durable or resistant to staining and wear as veneers. Therefore, they tend to require more ongoing maintenance and replacement long-term than veneers.

Here at Holy City Dentistry, we offer both composite bonding and dental veneers for patients who want to improve their smiles. We will be happy to go over the benefits of each option and give you a recommendation on which treatment is right for you. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Read this personal message from Dr. Kristy Castles, dentist office on James Island SC

A Personal Note From Dr. Castles

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The number one thing a dentist hears (and dreads) when they meet a new patient for the first time is “Sorry doc, but I just need to tell you that I hate the dentist. No offense.” No one wants to hear that strangers hate them all day, and some dentists take it personally. But after hearing this a few times, I decided to dig deeper. The dentist chair isn’t my favorite place to be either.  In fact, dentists tend to be the worst patients and ironically tend to avoid the dentist themselves.

But I wouldn’t say I hate it—I did become a dentist after all.

After helping numerous patients work through this feeling, I now know most of this dislike stems from bad experiences in the past. My goal is to change this mindset with new, positive experiences. A large part of why I decided to risk everything and open a practice of my own is because I wanted control over the patient experience.

I try to treat every patient as if they are me, my mother, or my child sitting in the chair. What would I want? How would I feel? How can I make this visit better? At Holy City Dentistry, the patient is our focus, because it’s your mouth and you’re in control of it. And we know you don’t have to be here, but we’re happy you are.

Obviously no dentist can promise to be 100% pain-free, because every person’s pain threshold is different. But there are techniques that can absolutely minimize pain and anxiety, while focusing on making the patient as comfortable as possible. It  takes some extra time, patience, empathy and communication, which is why so many dentists get a bad reputation if they don’t focus and deliver on those things. We do.

I created my dentist office on James Island to help people achieve optimal oral health, be confident in their smiles, and live a long, happy life being able to eat, drink, and say whatever they want. Our goal is to form a lifelong partnership with our patients.

Do we need teeth to live? No. But it sure makes life more enjoyable to be able to smile big for that wedding photograph, or eat a beautifully cooked steak. We’re here to help get you there, or to help you do all the right things to stay there. No one is perfect, including ourselves, so we get it. Ours is a judgement and lecture-free office. We’re ecstatic when you walk through our door, and we will do everything in our power to ensure you are happy to be there.