Dental veneers. Composite or porcelain?
Are you worried about your teeth? Want to have a confident, bright smile? Then you’ve likely already heard about the majority of treatments on the market to improve the appearance of your teeth: whitening, orthodontics, dental implants…but have you heard about dental veneers?
In this post our dental clinic in Barcelona, experts in placing dental veneers, explains what dental veneers are and the two most popular types. If you’re worried about your smile, then this is the post for you.
Let’s go!
What are dental veneers?
Dental veneers treat cosmetic issues and are placed on healthy teeth. They are thin shells of resistant materials that are bonded to the front part of the teeth for a natural, attractive smile.
They are often a solution for teeth with small imperfections like stains, slight misalignments, and small chips or fractures.
Although a range of veneers are available on the market (like lithium disilicate veneers), two specific types are most commonly used and recommended: composite and porcelain veneers. Using two different materials, both offer great results. Keep reading to learn about the main characteristics and pros and cons of each.
Types of dental veneers: composite and porcelain
Composite veneers
Composite veneers are a type of dental veneer made from an acrylic resin matrix that provides a highly resistant veneer with outstanding cosmetic results. They are placed directly on the tooth, applying the composite in layers that are hardened by ultraviolet light.
The main pros are:
- They only bond to the visible part of the tooth, reducing wear.
- Can be easily repaired if chipped or broken.
- Minimal preparation is required before placing the veneers.
- They are a less-expensive option.
The main cons are:
- They have a shorter lifespan than porcelain veneers.
- They can stain over time.
- They can chip and break over time.
- More visits to the dentist are required for maintenance.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers offer incredible strength and durability (similar to the tooth itself). However, these types of veneers are more complex and the placement procedure takes longer than it does with composite veneers.
Porcelain veneers are designed for minimum wear on the enamel. They are generally placed after an impression of the teeth are made and the molds sent to the lab to make the veneers (the patient will wear temporary veneers until the permanent ones are placed).
The main pros are:
- They are extremely durable.
- They do not stain over time.
- They have a much higher resistance to discoloration.
The main cons are:
- They take longer to place.
- They are more expensive.
- Even bonded to the tooth with a permanent material, there is a risk that they could come loose
These are the main types of veneers that we recommend at our Casanova25 dental clinic in Barcelona.
Still have questions? Make an appointment at our clinic and our specialist will answer all the questions you have and recommend the veneers that will work best for you.
