Porcelain Veneers and Dental Bonding in Midtown Toronto
Veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns and can perfect your smile by masking stains, hiding chips, correcting misalignment, and creating uniformity. Veneers can sometimes be placed over existing teeth without the removal of any form of tooth structure, minimizing the need for anesthesia and temporaries. The no-prep technique is perfect for stained, chipped, misaligned or spaced teeth. Bonding porcelain to enamel creates a solid, secure bond. In some cases, veneers require minimal to moderate preparation to place the teeth in the most aesthetically, pleasing position.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic restorations bonded to the visible surface of teeth. They can be used to change:
chipped or worn teeth
stains that whitening can’t remove
small gaps between teeth
teeth that are uneven, short or misshapen
mildly crooked teeth, in some cases
The amount of tooth preparation required varies from case to case. Some veneers require minimal preparation, while others require more reshaping to achieve the desired position and appearance.
What Is Cosmetic Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding uses tooth-coloured composite resin applied directly to the tooth. The material is shaped and polished to modify the appearance of the tooth without creating a separate porcelain restoration.
Bonding can be useful for:
repairing small chips
changing tooth shape
closing selected spaces
rebuilding worn edges
making relatively conservative cosmetic changes
Veneers vs Bonding, What's the Difference?
The biggest differences are the material, process, durability and cost.
Porcelain veneers are manufactured ceramic restorations designed to provide excellent colour stability and a highly natural appearance.
Composite bonding is created directly on the tooth using tooth-coloured resin and can often be completed more conservatively and at a lower initial cost.
Bonding generally does not have the same longevity or stain resistance as porcelain.
Which Option Is Better for My Smile?
It depends on the condition of your teeth, the amount of change required and your priorities. Sometimes bonding is all that is needed. In other situations, porcelain veneers provide a more predictable or durable result.
What is the process for porcelain veneers?
Consultation: we discuss what you would like to change and check that your teeth and gums are healthy.
Preparation: a thin layer of enamel is usually removed so the veneers sit naturally. In some cases, minimal- or no-preparation veneers are possible.
Scan and design: we use a digital scan to make your veneers, and may place temporary veneers.
Bonding: we check the finished veneers for fit and colour, then bond them in place.
What is the process for bonding?
We lightly roughen the tooth surface, apply composite resin, shape it, harden it with a curing light, then polish it. Most bonding is done in one visit, often without freezing.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Are veneers permanent?
If enamel is removed to place veneers, the change is permanent: the tooth will always need a veneer or other covering. The veneers themselves may need replacing after many years.
Can veneers or bonding be whitened?
No. If you want whiter teeth overall, whiten before getting veneers or bonding so we can match them to your new shade.
Veneers or crowns: what’s the difference?
A veneer covers only the front of a tooth and is mainly cosmetic. A crown covers the whole tooth and is used when a tooth also needs strengthening.
Are veneers covered by insurance?
Cosmetic veneers and bonding are usually not covered. Bonding to repair a broken tooth may be partly covered.