Dental Veneers: Porcelain vs. Composite
It’s not too late to get the smile you’ve always wanted! We offer several different cosmetic procedures that can help you get the smile of your dreams! The premiere of which are our veneer options!
We offer two different types of veneer procedures — porcelain veneers and composite (also known as bonding or same-day veneers).
WHAT ARE PORCELAIN VENEERS?
Porcelain veneers are a wafer-thin outer shell made of porcelain that creates the shape of your new smile. These shells get cemented onto the front of your teeth. These veneers are custom designed for your current smile and your smile goals.
WHAT DOES THE PROCESS FOR GETTING PORCELAIN VENEERS LOOK LIKE?
Getting porcelain veneers takes a few more steps than the composite alternative. To make room within your smile for the veneers, the front and sides of the existing teeth are reduced. We then take impressions and scans of your current smile to determine your custom veneers’ exact specifications (down to the millimeter!). The new veneers will take time to be made since they are being made to such precise detail, so in the meantime, we’ll outfit you with some temporary veneers. After a few weeks, we’ll bring you back in to remove the temporary veneers and secure your permanent veneers with a permanent bonding agent. Porcelain veneers are the most common metal-free choice for patients who are looking to restore their smile!
WHAT ARE COMPOSITE VENEERS?
A composite veneer is made of a composite resin that gets bonded to the front surface of your tooth to create the desired shape and color. This composite material is available in a wide variety of shades and can even be custom-colored to match your desired shade!
WHAT DOES THE PROCESS FOR GETTING COMPOSITE VENEERS LOOK LIKE?
Getting composite veneers is a relatively quick process — hence their nickname, same-day veneers. First, we roughen the tooth’s front surface, and if needed, we will also contour the edges of the tooth. After that, we’ll apply a few prepping solutions onto each tooth and ensure that the surface is clean. Then, we’ll select and create the perfect shade for your new smile and get to work! We’ll place the composite resin over each tooth and mold it to create the ideal shape. Once the desired shape is achieved, we cure and harden the composite resin with a special UV light. The last step is to smooth, then polish the composite veneer, and after that, you have the smile of your dreams!
WEIGHING YOUR OPTIONS – PORCELAIN VS. COMPOSITE VENEERS
Porcelain veneers are much stronger than composite veneers, so if you are looking to cover several teeth, this may be the way to go! Porcelain teeth are also much more difficult to stain, as opposed to composite veneers. Lastly, porcelain veneers reflect the light in a very similar way to your natural teeth, which gives them the most natural look possible.
That said, porcelain veneers cannot be used to repair broken or weaker teeth, which means they are not an option for everyone. Composite veneers also come with a much lower price tag and quicker turnaround time because they aren’t as involved as their porcelain counterpart.
Call our office today to schedule your consultation to see which option is the best fit for your smile!