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Porcelain or Composite?

 

Veneers are made to make your teeth look better, nothing more and nothing less. It consists of a thin layer of either porcelain or composite that covers the frontal, visible side of your teeth.

Colour, shape and, to a certain extent, the position can be changed. Veneers do not weaken your teeth.

 

Veneers are made of porcelain or composite. Composite can be done in one session, whereas porcelain takes two to four sessions as the porcelain veneers are made in the dental laboratory.

Porcelain veneers are more laborious and hence cost more.

 

Often, before making the veneers, a digital design and/or a simulation of the treatment in wax on study models is required.

 

In most cases, little or nothing is taken away from your teeth. The composite veneers are made by laying a thin layer onto your teeth followed by finishing/polishing. For porcelain veneers impressions or a scan of your teeth are made, on which the dental technician can fabricate the veneers. It takes approximately a week to ten days before they return from the dental laboratory. In the meantime you might need provisional veneers. When the porcelain veneers are delivered, they will be tried in and placed on your teeth.

 

The main differences between porcelain and composite are:

 

PORCELAIN                        COMPOSITE

 

Keep colour life long                               Will gradually become darker

Life span 15-20 years                             Life span 6-10 years

Stronger, less chipping                            May chip when biting something very hard

Difficult to repair                                    Easy to repair

Two, three or four sessions                       One session

€ 500-600 each                                   € 175-250 each

Stunning                                               Beautiful

 

 

It may be difficult to choose between porcelain and composite. There are no fixed rules to choose one above the other. Discuss the pro's and cons with your dentist.

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