Dental veneers are thin shells, usually made in the same shade as your teeth, which are bonded over the top surface of your teeth. These can alter the shape, color, size, or length of your teeth. Nevertheless, dental veneers result in naturally looking pearly whites for you.
Dental veneers are now available in two main types: the composite veneers and the porcelain veneers. Each of these two options has unique advantages and benefits. It is best to gain some insights on the pros and cons of these two types of veneers, in order to arrive at the wise choice.
The composite veneer is the traditional type that has been widely used by many dentists for many years already. Significant improvements were made along the way. What is available today is a far cry from the composite dental veneers many years ago. This is the cheaper type of veneer system. Therefore, if you are tight on budget, then this is the one to choose. Other than that, this is also the fastest method to have a veneer system on your teeth. You can have it completely done in just one session, unlike porcelain veneers that require more than one in-clinic session with your dentist.
It is called the composite method because the materials used are made of composite materials like resin and fillers to create natural tooth colors with high translucency. As a result, the fillings are almost invisible, and look natural to the untrained eyes. One of the significant advantages of composite dental veneers over porcelain veneers is that the veneer can be repaired if some fragments break-off. This is something that is not quite possible with porcelain. However, this is only a good option for light to moderate staining of the teeth. If you have a tooth with severe discoloration, it is relatively difficult to cover the severe staining on the tooth completely.
Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are the latest type that have several advantages over the traditional dental veneers. One of these is better resistance to stain. Aside from that, porcelain is extremely durable. This gives you added assurance on longevity, and more years of trouble-free use. Moreover, the porcelain veneer mimics the natural tooth color better than the composite veneer. However, one of the major drawbacks of this type of veneer is cost. This is relatively more expensive, thereby requiring bigger investment from you. Additionally, it is not reparable if the veneer breaks off. In this case, you will need new veneers to replace the broken ones.
Either way, it is best to discuss with your cosmetic dentist in Annapolis, MD which dental veneer is best suited for you. The dentist will also consider other factors like gum health and teeth condition, when deciding if composite or porcelain dental veneers are the right solution for you.