A beautiful smile could be the key solution to many problems. And, we all know that the appearance of our teeth plays an important role in our self-esteem and self-confidence as well. But have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wanted to hide your smile because of a chipped or crooked tooth? Or maybe you were just having trouble with a discolored tooth.
No matter the reason, if you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your teeth, dental veneers are here to help you. Dental veneers are thin covers that are applied to the front of teeth to give them a more classically formed appearance. With this procedure, you can improve the appearance of your teeth significantly.
There are two types of veneers: porcelain and composite veneers. If done correctly both of them can help you have a beautiful smile. But how to know which one is better for you? Let’s have a look at the porcelain vs composite veneers debate in detail.
What is Composite and Porcelain Veneers
Composite veneers are made of a resin that closely matches the color of natural teeth. To obtain the desired aesthetic look, they are put in layers to the tooth surface and molded directly in your mouth. After applying each layer, the resin gets hardened with the light. At the end of the procedure, veneers get polished.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are applied to the tooth’s exterior surface. They are used to give teeth a more natural appearance while still offering the same strength as natural teeth. They are made for each patient to ensure the perfect fit.
Comparing porcelain vs composite veneers in the context of time
An advantage of composite veneers is that they can be a same-day treatment. Your dentist could make your veneers while you wait in the office. As a result, they can be applied during a single visit. Since it only requires a minimum reshaping of your teeth, it takes a minimum of your time.
On the other hand, since porcelain veneers are made in a dental laboratory, they usually take at least two visits to the dentist. In the first visit, the dentist will take a thin layer of your teeth and sent it to the lab to prepare the veneer and in the second one, he or she will place them in your mouth. With the new advancing technology though, porcelain veneers now tend to take a lot less time to apply. Yet, when compared in the context of time we can say that composite veneers still have an advantage in the porcelain vs composite veneers debate today.
The durability of porcelain vs composite veneers
If there is one thing that composite veneers cannot compete with porcelain veneers, that is the durability of the porcelain veneers. Porcelain is far more resilient material than composite resin. If you take good care of your porcelain veneers, they can last up to 10 to 15 years whereas composite veneer’s lifespan is about 5 to 7 years. However, one important thing to remember is that porcelain veneers cannot be repaired. Thus, if any harm comes to them, they should be completely replaced. While if anything happens to your composite veneers you can easily visit your dentist and get them repaired.
Aesthetic and Naturalness of Porcelain vs Composite Veneers
Many dentists agree that porcelain veneers have a more natural and tooth-like aesthetic look. There is also another huge benefit of porcelain veneers. They are resistant to staining. This is due to the material’s strength and the glaze that is added to your teeth after the procedure. Thus, with porcelain veneers you will not experience stains from cigarette smoking, drinking coffee, or tea anymore. That means you will no longer have to go to the dentist for any teeth whitening procedures. Yet, there is one downside of porcelain veneers and that is they are irreversible, unlike composite veneers which can be replaced at any time.
Cost of Porcelain vs Composite Veneers
There is one chief advantage of composite veneer’s and that is their price. Porcelain veneers are typically twice as expensive as composite veneers. Because of their ease of use and low cost, composite veneers seem more appealing at first glance. Yet, if you have composite veneers you might have to get them repaired or replaced more frequently than porcelain veneers. When you take into account these procedures you will have to undergo, the cost of composite veneers comes about even with the porcelain ones.
In the end, in the porcelain vs composite veneers debate, it can be said that both types of veneers is effective, and can help you obtain a beautiful smile. In order to come to a precise decision, you would have to consult your dentist. But you can also seek out your priorities before going to the dentist. You could discuss them with your dentist and together you will find the best solution. If you looking for a more budget-friendly option, composite veneers could be the ones for you. If you are more into the aesthetic and natural look and you want to reduce your dental dentist visits you could choose porcelain composites.
So next time you just don’t feel like smiling because of a chipped or discolored tooth do not forget that you do not have to feel like that. You can change your smile with veneers whether your choice is porcelain vs composite veneers. And remember what they say, you can change the world with your smile. So do not hide it!
Hope this article will work for you as a guide in your decision to choose between porcelain vs composite veneers. You can read our previous post on https://smileteamturkey.com/blog/dental-care-turkey/
