Porcelain vs Composite Veneers: Who Wins?
Porcelain tooth veneers are the ones you tend to think about when someone mentions the word “veneer”. They’re the custom-made porcelain sheets placed on the front of teeth to fix coloring, chipping, spacing, etc. But did you know there’s a different way to do dental veneers? Composite veneers, made of a light-hardened resin, are actually sculpted onto the tooth, much like dental bonding, to correct the same cosmetic issues as their porcelain counterparts.
These two different methods in cosmetic dentistry are meant to achieve the same thing: a beautiful smile. So, what’s the difference between each kind of veneer? Here’s the rundown:
The Stats on Porcelain Tooth Veneers
- Porcelain veneers are super-durable and last up to 15 years, as opposed to 5-7 with composites.
- Porcelain gives the most natural aesthetic of the two dental veneer options.
- Tooth veneers made of porcelain are extremely stain resistant, as opposed to their more porous composite equivalent.
- Porcelain veneers offer a better capability to fix more severe aesthetic issues (i.e. extensive staining, chipping, etc.)
- Dental veneers made of porcelain are superior in resistance to chipping and breaking.
How Composite Tooth Veneers Stack Up
- Composite veneers can be done in a day, whereas with porcelain you have to wait for the custom tooth veneers to be made.
- Composite is half the cost of porcelain.
- Dental veneers made of composite require much less alteration to the natural tooth. Porcelain veneers have no reversibility; composite veneers do.
- Composite veneers can’t just fall off the way porcelain ones can.
Which type of dental veneer is right for your smile makeover? Ask your local cosmetic dentist for a consultation.