Composite Bonding vs. Porcelain Veneers
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Choosing Composite Bonding or Porcelain Veneers
Deciding between any dental work can be tricky, especially in a close comparison like composite bonding vs porcelain veneers. In general, composite bonding is the easier of the two procedures. It is very well suited for small works, like chips, cracks and light discolouration in a small area of the mouth. Porcelain veneers on the other hand are a more rigorous treatment, covering entire teeth.
Both of these procedures are extremely effective for their use cases. Whilst it varies greatly from case to case, this is the long and short of it. If you are on the fence, as well as learning more about what the differences are, it can always be worth speaking to a specialist to find out more about your exact circumstances.
Use Cases for Composite Bonding vs Porcelain Veneers
First and foremost, the main difference between composite bonding vs porcelain veneers is the use case that they best suit. Each has a hugely positive impact on your oral health when used in the right environment, and as a result, each of these has the potential to completely transform your smile.
Generally, porcelain veneers are considered the more comprehensive approach to be taken. They are used to fit over the top of existing teeth, covering them completely and looking like a completely natural, healthy tooth. They are ideal for more severe cases, such as if teeth are badly damaged with missing parts of the teeth, fractures on a large scale, and several other aspects.
Composite bonding is a much more simple treatment in most cases, better suited to smaller and more subtle issues than porcelain veneers. It can be done in just one sitting, with resin being applied to the existing tooth to restore it to a better condition. This could be to fill gaps, repair small cracks or ships, help with discolouration, or build up a tooth to be in line with the rest of your smile.
The Cost of Composite Bonding vs Porcelain Veneers
The fees for the two treatments are again another area of differentiation between these two treatments. For the most part, porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite bonding. What is fundamentally important in this aspect however is that the price of your treatment will depend entirely on your precise use case as well as who you choose to carry out the work.
| Composite Bonding |
from £160 |
| Composite Veneers |
from £450 |
| Porcelain Veneers |
from £600 |
Ethically Priced
Our teeth reshaping treatments are very ethically priced. That typically results in our prices being very competitive.
Dr. Deepa and Dr. Xenia are very experienced cosmetic dentists, with over 20 years of dental experience between the two of them.
The Composite Bonding and Porcelain Veneer Procedures
Composite Bonding Procedure
The procedure for composite bonding is often much easier and less invasive than the process of porcelain veneers, and this is without a doubt one of the most widely considered benefits of composite bonding in particular for smaller use cases.
The process for composite bonding is a simple case of your specialist adding a composite resin to your teeth following a very small pre-treatment of the existing teeth. From there, this resin is hardened using UV light, and the entire process is over and done within around an hour.
Porcelain Veneer Procedure
For porcelain veneers, this procedure is very different. Porcelain veneers require you to have a thin layer of enamel off the teeth in question in order for the new veneer to be able to sit in place with the rest of your smile and be the proportional size to the rest of the teeth.
The Durability of Composite Bonding vs Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers typically will be more durable than composite bonding, but the difference is actually nothing too jarring like many people are quick to assume because of the ease and nature of composite bonding.
The main difference between composite bonding and porcelain veneers regarding durability is simply that porcelain veneers are generally slightly stronger, and will be more resistant to discolouration in the long term, but again, this difference is marginal.
It is worth noting in this sense however that composite bonding is dramatically easier to repair, renew and add or remove than porcelain veneers are. Porcelain veneers will require complete replacement in case of damage, and the process is also irreversible.
Longevity
For the most part, porcelain does occasionally last a while longer than composite bonding, but all in all, they both come with an advised expectation of around 5-7 years. After this time it is not uncommon to begin to see visible wear from both treatments, and they may need some additional maintenance or touch-ups, or in other cases, they may need to be replaced.
Like everything dental related, however, it does all come down to your precise use case. For different uses and with different conditions, the situation can be entirely different from one patient to the next. As long as good oral hygiene is practised and with proper maintenance like regular checkups, there is no reason that either treatment could not last years to come.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Composite Bonding and Porcelain Veneers
Can I have Composite Bonding?
Any individual with healthy teeth can have composite bonding done to their teeth. The procedure can be used to –
- Repair chips or cracks to a tooth.
- Close gaps between your teeth.
- Make minor changes to the shape of a tooth to improve your smile.
- Change the shade of a tooth that’s a little discoloured.
- Correct minor tooth mis-alignment issues.
What are the advantages of Composite Bonding?
Composite bonding is one of the least invasive cosmetic treatments available to improve your smile. Composite bonding offers the following benefits vs. porcelain veneers –
- The tooth typically does not need to be drilled, making composite bonding a hugely desirable form of cosmetic dentistry versus porcelain veneers. Composite bonding is therefore considered a reversible form of cosmetic treatment.
- Composite bonding is much easier to repair vs. porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers can break or chip, in which case a new veneer needs to be made. Versus composite bonding which enables the cosmetic dentist to simply make repairs to the composite resin.
- Composite bonding can typically be completed in just one visit to the cosmetic dentist. Versus a porcelain veneer that requires multiple sessions with the cosmetic dentist.
- Composite bonding is typically less expensive versus porcelain veneers.
Can I have Porcelain Veneers?
Any individual with healthy teeth can typically have porcelain veneers made. Porcelain veneers are used to fix the following –
- Broken, cracked or chipped tooth or teeth – porcelain veneers enable large changes to the shape of the teeth vs. composite bonding that’s used to address smaller defects.
- Misaligned, uneven or irregularly shaped teeth – minor teeth misalignments or teeth that are just a little crooked can be masked using porcelain veneers. Versus composite bonding which is not well suited to fix larger issues such as this.
- Teeth that are discoloured (perhaps due to a root canal treatment or staining caused due to certain drugs) can be masked with porcelain veneers. Versus composite bonding which is not typically used to mask the entire surface of the tooth.
- Teeth that are worn down.
- Gaps between your teeth.
What are the benefits of Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are a very popular cosmetic dentistry procedure used by millions of patients worldwide to improve the appearance of their smile. They are popular for smile makeovers and smile redesign treatments. They have the following benefits –
- Porcelain veneers provide excellent natural looking results.
- Gum tissue is also known to tolerate porcelain veneers well.
- Porcelain veneers resist stains better vs. composite bonding.
At Whites Dental, our cosmetic dentists will be able to explain the benefits of Composite Bonding vs Porcelain Veneers, allowing you to choose the best cosmetic treatment choice for you.
We also provide related Cosmetic Dentistry treatments such as composite veneers, smile redesign and full smile makeovers to patients around us in Central London. We are based in London Waterloo, adjacent to Southwark Tube station. We are a 5 – 10 minutes’ walk from London Bridge station, Elephant and Castle, Waterloo and Borough Market. Please visit our Cosmetic Dentistry page for additional details regarding our Composite Bonding vs Porcelain Veneers treatments.
