Bonding vs veneers
Composite bonding vs porcelain veneers
Composite bonding is resin built onto the tooth in one visit: typically €250 to €325 a tooth for full cover in Dublin. A porcelain veneer is a thin ceramic shell made in a lab, typically €700 to €900 a tooth, and usually needs a layer of enamel removed. Porcelain lasts longer. Bonding costs less, is repaired in the chair and can usually be undone.
Side by side
| Composite bonding | Porcelain veneers | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price a tooth | €250 to €325 full cover, €150 to €300 edges only | €700 to €900 |
| Six teeth | €1,500 to €1,950 | €4,200 to €5,400 |
| Visits | Usually one | Two or more, with a lab in between |
| Your enamel | Roughened, little or none removed | Usually a thin layer removed |
| Lasts | A polish or repair within about 4 to 7 years | Most still in place at 10 years |
| If it chips | Built back in one visit | Usually remade |
| Stain | Picks up surface stain, polishes off | Glazed, holds its colour |
How long each lasts
Porcelain wins here. A large review of porcelain veneers found about 95% still in place at ten years. Composite on front teeth fails at roughly 0 to 4% a year in studies, mostly from chips, and composite veneers that need nothing more than a polish or a small repair are common. Read that as a pattern, not a promise: your bite and habits matter more than the material.
Choose composite if
- You want chips, small gaps or uneven edges fixed, with some brightening.
- You'd rather keep your enamel and keep your options open.
- The budget is closer to €1,080 to €1,950 than €4,200 to €5,400.
Choose porcelain if
- Your teeth are badly stained or heavily filled and you want a big colour change that lasts.
- You're happy to have enamel removed and the work redone every 10 to 15 years.
- You've had composite before and keep chipping or staining it.
Tax relief applies to both
Revenue's list of non-routine dental treatment, which gets 20% tax relief with a Med 2 form, includes veneers and etched fillings. Ask your dentist how your treatment will be certified.
Read next: Composite veneers · Composite bonding cost · How long bonding lasts · Does bonding damage teeth?
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Questions
Bonding or veneers
Which is better, composite bonding or veneers?
Neither is better for everyone. Porcelain lasts longer and resists stain. Composite costs much less, is done in one visit, can be repaired in the chair and removes little or no enamel. For chips, small gaps and shape, most people start with composite.
How much cheaper is bonding than veneers in Dublin?
For six front teeth, composite veneers are typically €1,500 to €1,950 against €4,200 to €5,400 for porcelain.
Can you go from bonding to veneers later?
Yes. Because bonding leaves most of the tooth as it was, you can move to porcelain later. Going the other way is harder, because porcelain usually needs enamel removed.
Do veneers or bonding stain?
Composite picks up surface stain over the years and a polish lifts most of it. Porcelain is glazed and holds its colour. Neither changes with whitening gel.
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