You’ve probably heard a lot about ‘veneers’ and how they are great for a smile makeover or correcting cosmetic discrepancies. That’s true! But it’s important to understand your options before diving in. There are two main types of veneers; Composite and Porcelain. Deciding which is best for you can be hard without a direct comparison – so that’s exactly what we’ve done! We have outlined the main differences between the two types of veneers to give you a better understanding of the procedures and which suits you.
What are Porcelain Veneers
Let’s start with Porcelain “traditional” Veneers. They are a tooth-shaped ‘cover’ that goes over the front of your teeth, after they have been reshaped, to provide you with a perfect new smile. Porcelain veneers are fabricated at a dental laboratory and then cemented into the patient’s mouth, covering the original teeth. Although it may sound daunting, veneers are a very common procedure and often considered the best cosmetic dental work one can do to refresh their entire appearance. They’re used to alter the size, shape, and shade of your natural teeth.
What are Composite Veneers
Like Porcelain Veneers, Composite veneers are used to alter the appearance of your natural teeth – but in a very different way. Composite veneers are a minimally-invasive tooth covering made using composite resin. Your naturally existing teeth will still be visible, with size and shape added around to bring your perfect smile to life. Composite veneers are also used for fixing chipped teeth.
Procedure
So let’s dive into the differences between Porcelain and Composite veneers…The biggest being the procedure itself. We described Composite veneers as “minimally-invasive”, so what does that mean and how does it compare to porcelain? Minimally-invasive procedures are operated with the least amount of ‘damage’ to the body as possible. In the case of composite veneers, this means the natural tooth is not damaged, changed, or reshaped in any way. Making composites reversible. This is the biggest difference to porcelain veneers, where the natural teeth are filed down and reshaped to accommodate the newer covers.
Appearance
Unique properties of porcelain make it the perfect replica of a natural tooth, shining and catching light in a natural way. Composite veneers still aim to look natural, but the more premium material of porcelain shows its worth in the appearance department. Another great feature of porcelain is that it is stain resistant – meaning the appearance will remain consistent and you no longer have to whiten your teeth. Composite veneers will stain and yellow just like natural teeth do – so they will still need to be whitened to get the best out of your smile.
Cost
Getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers is more expensive than the composite counterpart. This is for a number of reasons like time, resources and the expertise required to carry out the procedure. However, the durability of porcelain vs composite means that over a lifetime, the prices could even out depending on circumstances. For more detailed pricing on veneers and to discover which option is best for you, get in touch with us today!
Durability
Typically, porcelain veneers will last 10-15 years when well maintained. Composite veneers typically last 4-8 years, again depending on the maintenance. Porcelain as a material is more durable and stronger than composite, although both are designed with durability in mind – so I wouldn’t worry too much about chips and cracks. However, if a porcelain veneer were to be damaged, it would need to be fully replaced. Whereas, composite veneers can be repaired if damaged in the mouth.
At The Courtyard Clinic, we provide both porcelain and composite veneers, as well as a free consultation to go over your options in more detail and help you decide which would be best for you.
Get in touch with us today to learn more and book your free consultation!
