If you are looking for a long-term solution to brightening and straightening your smile, dental veneers are an excellent option. Dental veneers are thin, tooth-coloured coverings that are placed over your natural teeth to correct their appearance. Veneers are typically made out of one of two materials: Composite resin or porcelain.
When considering veneers, it is helpful to compare composite veneers vs porcelain veneers to determine which option is right for you. Porcelain veneers are long-lasting and offer the most natural appearance. Composite veneers are less costly but also less durable in the long run.
To decide between composite veneers vs porcelain veneers for your smile, explore the dental procedure and major differences between each type of veneer.
Composite Veneers
Composite veneers are made of a composite resin containing plastic and glass that is matched to your natural tooth colour. During the procedure for composite veneers, your dentist roughens the surface of the tooth and applies multiple thin layers of the resin to the surface of your natural tooth, hardening each layer with a UV light that cures the material. Once all the layers are applied, your dentist shapes and polishes the tooth.
Composite veneers are usually completed in one sitting, and you’ll experience minimal discomfort. Although the cost varies, composite veneers typically cost about a third of the price of porcelain veneers per tooth.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells made of porcelain, a highly durable ceramic material. Porcelain is naturally luminescent, making it a great option for natural-looking dental veneers.
Advanced Dental Care offers beautiful, long-lasting porcelain veneers that can greatly improve your smile. The procedure for having porcelain veneers requires two visits.
During the first visit, you meet with your dentist to assess your dental health and decide if porcelain veneers are the right treatment option. If you choose to move forward with dental veneers, 3D images and videos are taken of your mouth via an intraoral scanner which relays the information to special digital smile design software.
The data is used to create a preview of what your new porcelain veneers will look like. Your dentist then shaves down a small amount of enamel from your teeth and takes a mould of your mouth that helps the laboratory create your porcelain veneers.
During your second visit, your dentist fits the customised porcelain veneers onto your teeth.
If everything fits correctly, they bond the veneers to your natural teeth with dental cement, then polish them to give them a gorgeous, natural appearance.
Major Differences to Consider
When deciding between composite veneers vs porcelain veneers, there are several areas of comparison to consider. These include the time it takes to put the veneers on your teeth, the durability and longevity of the veneers, the aesthetic appearance of composite veneers vs porcelain veneers, and the cost.
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Procedure Time
When it comes to the time it takes to complete the veneer application process; composite veneers are the faster of the two. With composite veneers, your dentist matches the colour of your teeth with the composite resin, then applies the resin and cures it. This can be completed in one sitting.
Porcelain veneers require two visits; one during which your dentist shapes your teeth and takes an impression of your mouth to create the porcelain veneers, and a second during which the customised veneers are bonded to your teeth. These visits are relatively short, however and produce long-term results.
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Durability and Longevity
Porcelain veneers are much more durable and long-lasting than composite veneers. When the procedure is performed correctly, most porcelain veneers last at least 10 years, with 83% of porcelain veneers lasting 20 years or longer. Composite veneers have considerably less durability, only lasting between 5 and 7 years on average.
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Aesthetic Appearance
Porcelain veneers are unmatched in their aesthetic appearance. Porcelain veneers react to light in a similar manner to natural teeth, giving them an ultra-realistic look. Additionally, porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and durable, keeping them from becoming discoloured or chipped when well-cared for.
Composite veneers chip more easily, can become stained, and do not look as natural as porcelain veneers.
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Cost
While composite veneers are the less costly option upfront, porcelain veneers give you the best return on your investment. Porcelain veneers are more durable, look more natural, and last longer than composite veneers.
Schedule Your Consultation With Advanced Dental Care
If you are considering having dental veneers put on your teeth to improve their appearance, the best choice is to schedule a visit with your dentist to discuss any questions you may have about the procedure, type of veneer, and cost.
Contact Advanced Dental Care in Dubbo to schedule a consultation about our porcelain veneers. We are happy to answer your questions and discuss a personalised treatment approach. Call us on (02) 6188 7103 to make an appointment or schedule a consultation online.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.