Edge bonding is composite added only along the biting edge of a tooth, or into a chip or crack, so part of your natural tooth stays visible. Full composite bonding, often sold as a composite veneer, covers the whole front of the tooth (3Dental, Truly Dental). In Ireland edge bonding costs €150 to €300 a tooth, and €50 to €125 less than full-surface bonding at the same clinic.
Last checked November 2026: every clinic price on this page was re-read on the clinic's own website on 1 November 2026. Every figure links to its source.
Key points
Composite resin, the same tooth-coloured material as a white filling, built up along the edge of the tooth or into a chip, shaped by hand and set with a light.
3Dental: "edge bonding is placed along the edges of the tooth or in cracks and chips", and "a portion of your natural tooth remains visible". Composite bonding, by contrast, "cover[s] the entire tooth" (3Dental). Truly Dental describes edge bonding as a kind of composite bonding where material "is simply added to the edges of your teeth, meaning that some of your natural tooth will still be visible" (Truly Dental).
€150 to €300 a tooth at the three Irish clinics that price edge bonding separately from full bonding.
| Clinic | Edge bonding | Full bonding |
|---|---|---|
| White Smile Dental Dublin 4, 7, 12 and Cork | €150 incisal edge | €250 partial €200 |
| 3Dental Dublin, Galway, Limerick | €200 | €275 to €325 |
| Truly Dental Dame St and 4 others, Dublin | €250 to €300 | €300 to €350 composite veneers |
Per tooth, as published on each clinic's own page and read on 1 November 2026. Most clinics publish one "composite bonding" price without saying which they mean; across 75 Irish clinics the median is €250 (price survey). Quotes below about €180 are often edge work, so ask which one you're being quoted for.
Edge bonding if the problem is at the edge: a chip, a worn or uneven edge, or a small gap. A full composite veneer if you want to change the colour or the whole shape of the tooth.
The dentist decides at the consultation after checking your bite. Grinding and a heavy bite can rule bonding out or call for a night guard; see aftercare.
€900 to €1,800 for six teeth at the three clinics above, against €1,500 to €2,100 for full bonding. Our arithmetic from their published per-tooth prices.
| Clinic | 6 teeth, edge | 6 teeth, full |
|---|---|---|
| White Smile Dental | €900 | €1,500 |
| 3Dental | €1,200 | €1,650 to €1,950 |
| Truly Dental | €1,500 to €1,800 | €1,800 to €2,100 |
Not quotes. Consultation fees, any whitening and hygienist visits are extra. 3Dental offers payment plans on treatment over €1,000 (3Dental); more on paying for it.
Expect touch-ups after about 5 to 6 years (Truly Dental), sooner if you bite hard things or grind. The edge is the part that takes the load when you bite.
In the largest review of front-tooth composite work, fracture was the most common reason for failure (Demarco et al.). Truly Dental's aftercare sheet says composite "isn't as strong as your natural tooth structure", so avoid biting your nails or very hard food on the treated teeth (Truly Dental aftercare). A chipped edge is usually repaired by adding composite. More on how long bonding lasts.
It's one of the least invasive cosmetic treatments. 3Dental says bonding "requires no anaesthetic or drilling" (3Dental), and Truly Dental's aftercare sheet says no tooth layer or structure is removed (Truly Dental).
The dentist roughens the enamel surface slightly so the composite grips. Because the tooth isn't cut down, bonding can usually be polished off later, which is the main difference from porcelain veneers (bonding vs veneers). Your own dentist confirms what applies to your teeth.
Send one selfie and see what composite bonding could look like on your teeth, then meet a Dental Council-registered dentist near you. Free, no obligation.
Free smile previewEdge bonding adds composite only along the edge of the tooth or into a chip, leaving part of the natural tooth visible. Full composite bonding, or a composite veneer, covers the whole front of the tooth (3Dental).
€150 at White Smile Dental, €200 at 3Dental and €250 to €300 at Truly Dental, checked 1 November 2026. Full bonding at the same clinics is €250, €275 to €325 and €300 to €350.
Small gaps, yes. Truly Dental says small gaps can be filled with edge bonding and some larger ones reduced, while significant gaps may need orthodontic treatment (Truly Dental).
No. Part of your natural tooth stays visible, so the tooth keeps its own shade. Whiten first if you want whiter teeth, then have the edges matched.
Clinics such as Truly Dental say to expect minor touch-ups after about 5 to 6 years. Fracture of the edge is the most common failure in the studies.
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages on 1 November 2026. We are not affiliated with any clinic or organisation listed.