When preparing to have veneers placed, patients must choose between composite and porcelain veneers. While both provide stunning results, each technique has distinct characteristics and benefits that need to be considered before choosing which is right for you.
Serving patients in Missouri City, TX, Richmond, TX, and Fort Bend County, Fort Bend Dental can assist you in comparing the strengths and downsides of composite dental bonding and porcelain veneers to improve the appearance of your smile.
How Are Composite and Porcelain Veneers Different?
While composite and porcelain veneers have many similarities, they also have many differences. It is essential to evaluate the comparisons between the length of time they last, the cost, the variation in quality, and the aesthetic distinctions when deciding which is best for you.
Technique and Materials
It is important to note that composite veneers are also known as dental bonding. This approach involves the placement of a composite resin, which is the same material used in tooth-colored fillings, directly on the teeth to address cosmetic flaws. Veneers are crafted out of a porcelain material and made in a lab; the veneer covers the entire tooth to mask flaws.
Time
Composite veneers are a quicker treatment option than porcelain veneers. Dentists will match the shade of the resin with those of your surrounding teeth, shape and polish it, and have you walking out the door with a brand new smile the same day.
Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, require removing a thin layer of your teeth, taking a mold of them, then sending out the impressions to a lab so the veneers can be fabricated before they are cemented to your teeth on your second visit.
Cost
The placement of porcelain veneers as opposed to composite veneers requires more expertise, time, and resources. For this reason, porcelain veneers are the more expensive option of the two. However, when comparing the long-term costs of how often you would need to replace or maintain composite veneers as opposed to porcelain veneers, the cost evens out over time.
Quality
Porcelain veneers are more durable than composite veneers, leaving less of a chance for them to chip over time. With proper care, porcelain veneers can last an average of 10 to 12 years, while composite veneers typically have an average lifespan of four years before needing repairs.
Aesthetics
The translucent glow of porcelain veneers differs from that of its composite counterpart. While composite veneers still appear just as regular teeth, porcelain veneers capture light better to make them appear more lifelike.
Which Veneers Are Right for Me?
Each patient is unique and has a different goal and budget when it comes to achieving their dream smile. When choosing between porcelain and cosmetic veneers, speak to your dental professional about the differences in time, cost, durability, and aesthetic look before deciding which is right for you.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Are you ready to embark on your journey to a straighter, whiter, brighter smile? The team of licensed dental professionals at Fort Bend Dental can assist you in answering any questions you may have. With state-of-the-art facilities and decades of experience placing composite and porcelain veneers, you’ll be flashing your new pearly white smile to the world in no time.
Call us at (281) 336-9899 or contact us to schedule your appointment today at one of our conveniently located dental practices.
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