Composite Veneers or Porcelain Veneers – Which is Best?
Composite Veneers or Porcelain Veneers, which is best? As with many of the different dental procedures on offer it can often be purely down to personal choice!
Opting to have veneers fitted whatever they’re composed of is one of the first, excellent steps you can take to improve the aesthetics of your teeth and of course, your overall confidence.
A happy, healthy smile is one of the real, genuine differences you can make to your appearance that says you care about yourself.
Choosing a good quality private dentist to carry out the work, means you are investing in the best for your oral health now, and in the future too.
Choosing Composite or Porcelain Veneers
Opting to have veneers placed is the first step in improving the aesthetics of your teeth. The second is making sure you choose the right material to have them made from.
The two most commonly used materials for veneers are composite resin and porcelain. If you choose an experienced private Kingston dentist to carry out the work for you, then you can be assured that whatever the material you choose you will have a transformed smile.
How do you know whether composite or porcelain is right for you? Typically, this will come down to your specific requirements and which of the following are important to you:
- Cost
- Treatment time
What Are The Advantages of Composite Veneers?
There are advantages to both of these aesthetic treatments, and it is always best to talk to your private dentist about any procedure you are considering.
- Cost
Perhaps the chief advantage of Composite Veneers over Porcelain is their cost. Porcelain Veneers can sometimes work out to be more expensive than their composite counterparts. However, the cost of veneers will always vary, and it is best to discuss this with your private dentist so you know exactly what you will receive for your money.
- Same day treatment
Composite veneers can be a same day treatment. They are sculpted on to your teeth, rather than being made in a lab which is off-site. This ‘tooth shaped’ resin is directly applied to teeth and then it can be sculpted and shaped by the dentist treating you. It is then hardened with a high-intensity light, and after this more layers of resin can be applied if they are needed until the desired aesthetics are achieved. Once the resin is in place, it needs to be polished to make it look like natural tooth.
- Less invasive
The above factors, and the methods that are used in their application to the teeth often means that the composite veneer procedure can be much less invasive and noticeably quicker than applying porcelain veneers.
- They can be removed and replaced
Perhaps the other main advantage is that composite veneers have an element of reversibility. With these types of veneers, there is minimal prep work required on your teeth, so this means that in the first instance they are not permanently altered. In the event the composite needs to be removed or replaced, it can be done as needed.
What Are The Advantages of Porcelain Veneers?
There are also distinct advantages to opting for porcelain veneers too.
- Durability
Porcelain veneers are extremely durable. It is a naturally stronger substance than composite resin. Porcelain veneers that are well maintained can last anything up to fifteen years. There’s an important trade off, in that whilst composites might cost less, they might not last quite as long. However, that said, good quality composite veneers, professionally applied can last for up to a decade.
- Natural
Many private dentists agree that a porcelain veneer will offer the most ‘natural’ tooth like aesthetics. This is because it appears quite translucent, and thus looks quite similar to normal tooth enamel. Porcelain is also more resistant to staining and chipping.
- Embracing more modern technologies
Whilst the procedure to apply porcelain veneers is much more involved, more dentists are opting to use different and up to date technologies which means that on-site fabrication is sometimes possible. Always speak to your dentist about the sort of technology they have to hand, as this can sometimes reduce overall treatment time. Even if veneers are made off site, your dentist will supply you with temporary veneers, so that you are not left high and dry.
- Perfect solution for damaged teeth
Porcelain veneers offer a really suitable treatment for cases in which tooth enamel is worn, or there is distinct wear and tear to the teeth. As an example, significant discolouration or issues that affect the spacing of teeth can be treated with porcelain veneers and can offer a natural looking approach to fixing aesthetic concerns.
Composite or Porcelain? Choose Aesthetika For a Free Consultation
The best course of action when deciding if composite or porcelain veneers are the right option for you is to speak to your dentist and have a thorough consultation with them.
Think about the things that are most important to you. If it’s a cost effective solution, then composite might be the way forward. If your main concerns are aesthetics or repairing the look of damaged or worn teeth, then porcelain might be the better option.
However, regardless of the material you opt for in the end, both composite and porcelain veneers will really offer you the enhancement to your smile that you have been looking for, for years. Aesthetika is the solution for your composite and porcelain veneers. Contact us for a free consultation
