Composite Veneers Vs. Porcelain Veneers: Which is Better?

Whether you are looking for a smile makeover or a cosmetic correction, Denver CO Veneers can help you with that. There are many procedures to choose from that can amazingly give you that perfect, white teeth. One good option you can have is putting on some veneers. There are two primary types of dental veneers: the composite and the porcelain. Determining which type of veneer is also important to consider as these two have advantages and disadvantages.  

 

What are Veneers? 

Veneers are finger-nail like shells that are customized to fit and bond with your front teeth, as permanent as possible. They are made of thin layers of either porcelain or a strong composite resin.  

 

Both of these materials can hide teeth imperfections such as slight gaps, chips, overlaps or stains that cannot be solved by traditional tooth whitening. They are considered as less invasive because they retain more of the natural tooth compared to other procedures. 

 

Composite Veneers 

Composite veneers are generally cheap compared to porcelain. They are also sculpted at the very time of the procedure, so it just takes one visit. Unlike porcelain, composite veneers just remove a tiny amount of your enamel or tooth structure to allow for placement in the desired shape without adding tooth bulk 

 

Porcelain Veneers 

Porcelain veneers look more natural because they are exclusively created for each patient to match the shape and color of the natural teeth. This material is strong, stain-resistant, and long-lasting. Porcelain veneers are more durable compare to composite veneers and are more expensive. However, porcelain can take up to three visits because each veneer is personally sculpted to fit and match each tooth. And unlike composite veneers, it removes a good amount of tooth structure to fit it in.  

 

The following are the factors which the two veneers differ: 

 

Durability 

With proper care, porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years while composite veneers can last 4 – 8 years. Porcelain is fragile but becomes extremely durable when bonded to a healthy tooth. Composites are strong but not as strong as porcelain, and it is prone to chipping 

 

Time 

Composite veneers are quicker than porcelain. They can just be done chairside in one visit. Porcelain veneers require your doctor to remove a very thin layer of your teeth, take an impression receiving the veneers and send the mold out to a lab. Porcelain takes two to three visits.  

 

Aesthetics 

Porcelain veneers have translucent properties that allow it to reflect light the way your natural teeth do. Composite veneers are also good and they also look like natural teeth but they cannot match the aesthetic of porcelain veneers. 

 

Cost 

As mentioned, a composite veneer is cheap while porcelain veneer is expensive because it requires more time, resources and expertise. If you are at a budget, composite veneers can suffice 

 

Permanence 

This is akin to the veneer’s durability. Porcelain is long-lasting but once damaged, it is irreversible and cannot be repaired; it can only be replaced. Composite veneers, once chipped and damaged, can be repaired.