Lumineers or Dental Crowns?
Tooth bonding is an overlooked cosmetic dentistry procedure that can correct many of the same things other, more expensive restorations can including gaps, misalignment and chipped teeth. The aspect which stands out most about this procedure is its cost, not that it should be the single deciding factor. When compared to Lumineers and even conventional veneers, bonding always prevails in the price department. At most, the treatment will run you several hundred per tooth. It’s impossible to make an informed decision about tooth bonding without considering its advantages and drawbacks relative to other procedures. We have spelled these out in plain terms below.
Defining what you want to get accomplished and in what time frame is essential in choosing the right procedure. For small chips and other minor abnormalities, bonding is more practical choice. It makes little sense to pay $1,000 to restore a single chipped tooth to perfect condition with Lumineers. This is actual not a realistic scenario as an experienced cosmetic dentist will refuse to install a single veneer due to color matching restraints. So, you can realistically up the cost to $2,000. Your dental insurance should cover bonding for the tooth as it isn’t necessarily cosmetic. Good luck getting that to happen with the Lumineers. When it comes to dealing with more profound problems that are extended over larger areas, the veneers make more sense. For instance, tooth discoloration affecting several teeth is best treated with Lumineers. Bonding resin, unlike porcelain, can stain and sooner or later the patient will find him/herself back to square one. The bottom line is that composite bonding is most suitable for small fixes, while veneers for larger problems. As far as treatment length is concerned, bonding can be performed within a single appointment. Veneers require two appointments. During the first, the teeth are prepared for installation. When the Lumineers arrive back from the lab (which can take three or more weeks) they are test fitted and finally installed.
In terms of life longevity, neither veneers nor bonding is a permanent solution. Composite bonding will wear faster, requiring replacement every few years. The better a patient’s oral hygiene and eating habits, the longer the composite resin will remain intact. Lumineers are advertised to last 20 years, but a safer assumption would be ten. After factoring in the cost of maintenance for bonding, you may find that it is the more expensive avenue.
Both procedures can produce excellent results, but the porcelain will retain its luster and color shade far better than the composite resin in the long term. The end outcome is largely in the hands of the cosmetic dentist. Both Lumineers and bonding can be difficult to pull off without sufficient experience. The former are difficult to install due to the limited amount of tooth structure removal which can be performed, and the latter because it’s conducted freehand. Regardless of whichever of these procedures you choose, finding an experienced dentist is of paramount importance. Always choose a cosmetic dentist based on their qualifications and not the price they’re offering. This will ensure satisfaction with the final outcome.