Treatments available to improve minor aesthetic issues with your teeth include dental veneers that cover up such imperfections to give your teeth a more uniform appearance. There are two separate treatments that are referred to as veneers, and while they accomplish the same purpose, they have little in common with one another otherwise.
Knowing the difference between porcelain and composite dental veneers can help you determine which treatment option is more appropriate for you.
Composite veneers are so called because they consist of several different materials blended together. The main component is an acrylic resin, which is a type of plastic. This is combined with particles of a material such as silica or quartz for reinforcement. Porcelain veneers are made of a ceramic material.
Composite veneers are applied by painting the liquid resin onto the tooth, sculpting it, and then curing it with a special light to harden it once it has reached the desired shape. The tooth requires very little prep work beforehand and, in some cases, no prepping at all.
Traditional porcelain veneers consist of thin shells, each of which fits over an individual tooth. Before these veneers can be placed, the teeth have to be prepared by removing small amounts of enamel from each tooth. There is a wait of a few weeks before porcelain veneers can be placed because they have to be custom-made for you in a laboratory. Though you will be leaving the dental office with temporary plastic veneers. On the other hand, no-prep veneers are a type of dental veneer that requires little to no removal of the natural tooth. These veneers can be bonded directly onto the tooth's surface, providing aesthetic enhancements without changing the tooth's structure.
Both composite and porcelain veneers are customizable, but in different ways. Porcelain veneers are made for you in a lab according to specifications provided by your dentist. Composite veneers can be sculpted into the desired shape before curing, and possibly modified afterward.
Like natural teeth, porcelain veneers are smooth and slightly translucent, giving them a more natural appearance. Composite veneers are more opaque but can be sanded down to give them the smoothness of a natural tooth.
Both composite and porcelain veneers can become damaged over time and require replacement. Composite veneers wear out in about five to seven years while porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 20 years.
There are some situations in which composite veneers do not work well. Because they are painted onto the tooth, they are not able to close severe gaps between the teeth. If the tooth is deeply discolored, the composite material may not be sufficient to cover it up. Porcelain veneers are able to address issues such as these where composite would not be appropriate.
You have to wait for porcelain veneers to come back from the lab before they can be applied. There are no such delays for composite veneers, which are a same-day treatment.
The lack of preparation required prior to the application of composite veneers makes it possible to reverse them. Porcelain veneers are considered permanent because they require the removal of some tooth enamel, albeit very small amounts. They can be removed by a dentist but have to be replaced with new veneers.
Each choice is quite different so it is important to determine which one would be the most appropriate for your unique situation. In both scenarios, the affected tooth must be healthy overall. A tooth that is severely decayed, damaged, or does not have a healthy root intact should not and cannot be effectively treated with either type of veneer. In these situations, other options should be explored, such as crowns, bridges, implants, or partial dentures.
Composite veneers work well for people who have mostly cosmetic tooth issues. This includes discolorations that will not respond to whitening treatments and very minor chips or cracks. They can be a good option for people who need a less invasive treatment procedure and are willing to have it redone every few years.
Porcelain veneers can address all of the same issues composite veneers can. However, they are a more appropriate treatment option for more significant tooth damage. In addition, veneers are a good option for people who have unevenly sized, shaped, or spaced teeth. Patients may prefer veneers if they want a longer-lasting treatment option.
Though different from one another, composite and porcelain dental veneers are both effective treatments for improving the appearance of minor flaws in teeth. To choose the right option and develop a proper treatment plan, talk with a dentist about your concerns and goals.
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