Porcelain Veneer Dentin Bonding - Is This as Strong as Enamel?

There are excellent indications for both Dental bonding and for porcelain veneers.  Generally speaking bonding is used for smaller sized restorations and porcelain veneers for larger restorations or breaks.  However, age can also play a role in the choice, as childrens teeth have a larger nerve and will also change over time.

With the advent of newer types of porcelain that allow us to create veneers at .3mm thickness, we are now able to do minimal prep veneers and non-prep veneers with materials such as Emax and still be able to to shade and make them look natural.  When doing single veneers custom shading in the mouth is often utilized to get that "perfect" artistic look that blends in with the natural teeth.

As for your question about bonding strength, dentin bonding strength is weaker than the bond to enamel. Is your tooth broken off so badly that there is no enamel? If not then a minimal prep veneer may allow you to retain some enamel for increased strength.

I would need to see a picture of the tooth prior to the procedure.  Depending on the amount of enamel and the strength of the existing tooth the porcelain may need to wrap around the tooth to ensure proper retention.  The tooth should never change color unless the nerve dies and a root canal is needed.

I would always go with the most conservative approach and save as much of the tooth as i can. I think it the chip is small enough, i would use minimal prep veneers.  Most of it would be bonded to the enamel which is stronger than dentin, and you save most of the tooth structure.  I am not fond of taking down a tooth that i do not have to, only to achieve an aesthetic purpose which could have been achieved with a less invasive procedure.

My advice to you would be ask your dentist to show you pictures of minimal prep veneer cases that he has done so you can see how good they look.  If you are not happy with what you see, i suggest you look for another dentist who is proficient in both procedures and ask to see pictures that he has taken of his patients.....he should always have a smile gallery that you can look at.  Hope this helps!