Veneers

Our definitive guide on teeth bonding and dental veneers.

Do your teeth have stains, chips, or gaps? Do you want to improve your smile and gain more confidence? Veneers or teeth bonding could be your perfect solution.

To help you make an informed choice on whether these treatments are right for you, we’ll review some of our patients’ most commonly asked question

What is teeth bonding?

• Treatment for minor chips, small gaps, and broken or discoloured teeth
• The application, hardening, and polishing of a tooth-coloured substance (composite resin) to make slight alterations to your tooth

What are dental veneers?

• Ultra-thin shells that are attached to the front of your teeth
• A treatment for discolorations, brightening teeth, and improving your smile
• A solution for conditions that cause bite alignment issues
• Made of porcelain or composite resin

What are composite resin veneers?

• Dental veneers made from composite resin—the same substance used in teeth bonding
• Benefits include less tooth enamel removal than porcelain veneers, fast treatment, cheap cost, and easy repairs
• Lasts five to seven years

What are porcelain veneers?

• Dental veneers made from porcelain—a durable ceramic material that looks nearly identical to your teeth’s natural dentin
• Benefits include a durable and long-lasting design, natural-looking tooth surface, less tooth enamel removal than other treatments, and high resistance to staining
• Lasts 10 to 15 years

How do veneers work?

• Thin coverings are placed over the visible part of the tooth to look like natural teeth
• For composite veneers, we set, harden, and polish composite resin that is attached to your tooth enamel
• For porcelain veneers, we remove a thin layer of enamel from your teeth, make a mould of your teeth, and install temporary veneers. The next appointment, we remove your temporary veneers and put on your custom-made porcelain veneers

How much do veneers cost?

The cost of veneers may vary depending on the size, location, and condition of the tooth being treated. Your dentist will be able to give you a price prior to your procedure. 

What is teeth bonding?

Do you notice small imperfections with your smile?

You could be a candidate for teeth bonding.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, bonding is a painless way to make minor repairs or improvements to teeth, such as:

• Filling in the missing part of a chipped tooth
• Building up teeth and filling in between them
• Restoring a broken tooth to its size
• Painting over a stained tooth to make it match the colour of your other teeth

The best part?

Bonding is fast. We can potentially bond several teeth in a single dentist appointment. Here’s how it works:

1. We place a thin, transparent plastic film to isolate your tooth.
2. We place a mild chemical on the tooth that helps attach composite resin—a substance that can easily match the colour of your natural smile.
3. Similar to painting a wall, we put the composite resin on in layers.
4. After the last layer hardens, we shape and polish the resin to form your tooth.

The final product looks natural and smooth. During your next appointment, we follow-up by examining the bond and seeing if it needs any more polish.

What are dental veneers?

Want a beautiful smile?

Dental veneers could make all the difference, and then some.

The Academy of General Dentistry defines veneers as ultra-thin shells that attach to the front of your teeth. While bonding can fix smaller portions of the tooth, veneers replace the entire front surface. 

As a result, veneers can drastically alter the look of your smile. They are typically used to mask discolorations, brighten teeth, and improve smiles. In addition to their cosmetic benefits, the American Dental Association notes that veneers can also be a solution for several dental issues, such as:

• Chipped or worn teeth
• Crooked or misshapen teeth
• Uneven spaces or a large gap between the upper front teeth

These conditions can cause problems with your bite alignment, which in turn can lead to TMJ disorders and other complications.

Veneers are either made of composite resin or porcelain.

What are composite resin veneers?

We employ the same tooth-coloured filling material for composite resin veneers that we use in bonding treatments.

According to the American Dental Association, composite resin veneers have several benefits, such as:

• Less tooth enamel removal than dental crowns or porcelain veneers
• Fewer potential visits to the dentist—sometimes it only takes one visit
• Less expensive than porcelain veneers
• Easier and quicker repairs if they are damaged

Composite resin veneers usually last between five to seven years.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain is a durable ceramic material that looks nearly identical to the dentin your tooth is made of, making it an ideal material for veneers.

Porcelain veneers have many benefits, such as:

• Strong and long-lasting design
• Natural-looking tooth surface
• Less tooth enamel removal than dental crown treatments
• High resistance to staining

According to the Journal of Dentistry, people with porcelain veneers enjoy a high rate of patient satisfaction and excellent long-term maintenance. In fact, porcelain veneers can last between 10 and 15 years with a consistent oral hygiene routine.

How do veneers work?

Veneers are thin coverings that are placed over the visible part of the tooth and look like natural teeth.

While porcelain and composite resin veneers work similarly, their installation is slightly different.

Composite resin veneers have a similar application process to bonding. During your appointment, we will:

1. Place a mild chemical on the tooth that helps attach composite resin to your tooth enamel.
2. Place several layers of composite resin on your tooth.
3. Harden each layer of the composite resin using a bright light.
4. Shape and polish the resin to form your tooth.

The final result is natural and smooth.

Conversely, we install porcelain veneers in two appointments. During the first appointment, we will:

1. Administer local anesthetic before removing a thin layer of enamel from your teeth to make room for the veneers.
2. Make a mould of your teeth to custom-make your porcelain veneers.
3. Place a temporary veneer to replace the removed portion of the tooth.

Until your next appointment, you will need to treat the temporary veneers with great care since they are very fragile. One to two weeks later, we will:

1. Remove your temporary veneers.
2. Place a mild chemical on the tooth that helps attach porcelain to your tooth enamel.
3. Glue the porcelain veneers to your teeth with composite resin cement.