Whether you are looking for a total smile makeover or just to have a few visual changes to your teeth, today’s dental veneers are a popular and proven option. There are two types of dental veneers used across Australian dental clinics: porcelain and composite resin. Which one is right for you comes down to multiple factors, which we’ll discuss below. Whenever you’re ready to get started, our friendly staff are available to schedule your free smile assessment with our Perth cosmetic dentist.
The Difference Between Porcelain and Composite Veneers
Porcelain veneers are custom made thin shells of porcelain which are fixed to the outer-surface of a tooth. Composite veneers are engineered usually in the dentist’s office of white resin material which is applied and shaped to the outer surface of the tooth. Both are made to match your tooth’s natural colour, or even to whiten your smile. The main difference is the material used and where it’s manufactured. To the untrained eye, they both look very similar.
Time
Composite resin veneers are done at our dental clinic in a single appointment, so it’s much quicker than getting porcelain veneers. In the hands of Perth’s experienced cosmetic dentist – Dr Vicky Ho – the resin will be colour matched to the shade of your surrounding teeth for the most natural look. If you are looking for a whiter look, Dr Ho will select a whiter color to get the desired effect. Once the resin is added to your teeth, cured and then polished, you’ll walk out with a fab new smile!
Porcelain veneers typically take at least two visits because the shells are custom made at an outside dental lab At your first visit, Dr Ho will take impressions of your teeth, remove a very thin layer of your teeth, then take another impression of the teeth now they are prepped for veneers. The data is then sent to the lab for manufacturing. Dr Ho will then apply a temporary composite veneer while we wait for your permanent veneers to come back from the lab. When you come back for your second visit, your customised porcelain veneers will be permanently bonded to your teeth.
Durability
With proper care and routine checkups, porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years. Composite veneers, due to the nature of the material, lasts about half of that. Porcelain by itself is fragile, but once bonded to a healthy tooth it is quite durable. Composite resin material is also durable but not as strong as porcelain and can be more prone to chipping.
If you damage a porcelain veneer, it normally can’t be fixed, and we’ll have to make a totally new one for you. Chips and other light damage on a composite veneer can usually be fixed in a single visit.
Looks
Porcelain veneers have a more natural, translucent look, and is the preferred option for the best possible look. While composite resin still looks great, porcelain is unmatched. Porcelain veneers are also stain resistant, so coffee, tea and soft drinks won’t stain your veneers. Composite veneers can stain, leading to a dulling of your veneers. For this reason, porcelain veneers are preferred by most of our patients.
How Much do Porcelain Veneers Cost?
Porcelain veneers are a little bit more than composite veneers because they take more time to produce, you need a skilled dentist, the lab fees can be high because of expertise and material. However, in the long run, you won’t have to replace porcelain veneers as often as composite veneers, and the look stays great for a much longer time.
Need more information about having veneers to brighten your smile? Contact our friendly staff and book your free smile assessment today.
