Composite bonding is one of the most versatile dental treatments available. Composite bonding can fix chipped teeth, rebuild teeth and act as veneers to transform a dull smile into a pleasing smile. But because they attach to teeth, you might think that they may cause some damage to the tooth structure. But unlike porcelain veneers, composite veneers don't damage your teeth.

Composite veneers don't require enamel removal

The biggest downside to porcelain veneers is that they are irreversible. This is because dentists remove some enamel before placing porcelain veneers on teeth. If you take good care of your porcelain veneers, this won't be a problem. But if you damage your porcelain veneers or want to remove them, that loss of enamel will leave your teeth sensitive and vulnerable to cavities.

Composite veneers don't sacrifice any of your tooth enamel. Dentists apply composite resin to your teeth; harden it with a light, and then polish and shape that resin until it matches your natural teeth. The shaping and polishing process will only affect the composite veneers, not your teeth.

Chemical etching roughens the tooth surface

One process might worry some patients. This is the chemical etching process. Because the surface of teeth is smooth, dentists need to roughen this surface before they can place a composite veneer. Roughening the surface of a tooth will help the bonding material to cling to the surface of the tooth more securely. To roughen a tooth, dentists use a process called chemical or acid etching.

To etch the surface of a tooth, dentists place a gel containing phosphoric acid onto the enamel. This acid will dissolve a tiny amount of enamel and thus cause the surface of the tooth to roughen. Although this process will dissolve some enamel, the amount isn't enough to damage your teeth. And if you choose to remove the composite veneers, you can do so without issue.

Composite veneers gradually deteriorate but can be replaced

Over time, composite veneers do gradually succumb to wear and tear and staining. But when this happens, you can replace them with a new set of composite veneers. To replace composite veneers, your dentist will polish away the old veneers and then add a new layer of composite resin, which they will fashion into veneers. The removal process won't damage your teeth.

Are you thinking about investing in composite veneers? Then speak to your dentist. The dentist can explain the process to you and help put your mind at ease.

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