Composite vs Porcelain veneers -Which is Better? |Vogue Smiles Melbourne
Composite vs Porcelain veneers -Which is Better?
Patients sometimes visit their dentist because they are not satisfied with their smile. Perhaps they have stains or chips on their front teeth, or they have gaps between the teeth that detract from their appearance. Whatever the reason, they have several cosmetic dentistry options for treatment. Among these are dental bonding andporcelain veneers.
Dental veneers are ultra-thin, tooth-colored coverings that are custom-fitted over the teeth to enhance its color, shine, and shape.Dental veneers are very thin shells made from tooth-like material designed to cover the front surface of teeth. Most veneers today are made of porcelain because this material resists stains better and has a light-reflecting quality similar to that of natural teeth. The veneers are placed on the front of the teeth, concealing imperfections and sometimes changing the size, shape, and length of teeth. Primarily, these veneers are made from porcelain or composite resin material, and are accordingly known as Porcelain Veneers and Composite Veneers.
Porcelain Veneers
AdvantagesAs the name suggests, porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain, which are bonded directly to your teeth. Porcelain is a substance that looks very similar to natural teeth, so they can blend nicely with your existing teeth.
Porcelain is relatively strong -although vulnerable to chipping- and porcelain veneers can easily last at least 7-10 years or more.
Porcelain resists staining fairly well, so they’ll remain shiny for a long time. For complete smile makeovers, porcelain veneers are the way to go – the size, shape, position and colour of the teeth can be significantly changed
Porcelain is a glass or ceramic type of material that naturally resembles tooth enamel in color and opalescence. Veneers are very thin layers of porcelain, covering unsightly teeth like a beautiful mask. They are about as thick as a contact lens or a fingernail. Because they are so thin, the preparation requires very little tooth alteration.
Porcelain Veneers enjoy many advantages over Composite Veneers. The durability of porcelain is much superior to composite resin. Even though porcelain is ultra-thin, but once it gets bonded to the tooth structure, it acquires great strength and can easily last for 10 to 15 years.
Porcelain is known as one of the best materials for esthetic dental procedures, because it mimics tooth enamel very closely. Veneers are extremely thin (usually less than 0.5 mm thickness), giving them an enamel-like translucence creating a natural appearance. These properties of translucence in porcelain give it a near-perfect natural look,making it ideal to acquire the natural color of the teeth, which is not possible with composite resin. Porcelain is such ultra-smooth and impervious ceramic that it does not absorb stains so easily. In comparison, the composite resin cannot resist the stains to such degree.
Most dentists agree that porcelain veneers offer the most natural, tooth-like aesthetics. Porcelain has a translucent quality that is quite similar to tooth enamel. It is also highly resistant to staining and chipping due to the strength of the material and the glaze that is applied after treatment. On the other hand, composite veneers are more porous and therefore susceptible to staining, meaning that you may need to adjust your diet in order to avoid certain stain-causing foods. Composite also needs to be polished in order to achieve a tooth-like esthetic. And even then it doesn’t quite compare.
Disadvantageskey disadvantages of porcelain veneers over composite veneers. Porcelain veneers must be fabricated in the lab, and the patient is required to make at least two visits to the dentist to complete the process.
Porcelain veneers cost more than the composite veneers due to more expensive material costs, and higher expertise and time consumption required in fitting the porcelain veneers.
Composite Veneers
Advantagescomposite resin is made from synthetic, tooth-colored materials and chemicals that are bonded together to create the resin.
Dentists use composite resin bonding material to fill cavities, but when applied to the front teeth, many doctors and patients refer to this technique as “bonding.” Composite bonding can be completed on the front teeth as a cost-effective alternative to porcelain veneers. The composite resin can be fabricated either by a dentist placing material directly onto a tooth or teeth (chair-side composite laminate veneer) or by a laboratory technician (laboratory-fabricated composite laminate veneer). If the teeth are prepared first, by removing stains, smoothing chipped surfaces, or pulling teeth back that are out of the arch form, composite resin can be applied to create beautiful veneers. Without preparation of the teeth, it is difficult to make pre-veneer fully-contoured teeth appear natural, and they tend to look bulky.
Composite veneers are made of a tooth coloured filling material resin, which can be worked with directly somewhat like clay. Composite veneers can actually be crafted by your dentist while you’re sitting in the chair, so they can be completely created and applied within a single session! Composite veneers can be fitted within a single visit itself
Composite veneers have a number of advantages over porcelain, chief among which is cost. On average, porcelain veneers are twice as expensive as composites, which is very important for some people given that most treatments are not covered by insurance, meaning you are likely paying out-of-pocket for treatment. The cost of veneers varies based on a number of factors, but composites cost on average between $250 and $700 per tooth. This can add up quickly in a smile makeover.
Another advantage that composite veneers have over porcelain is the fact that composites can typically be fabricated in one vsit, making it a same-day treatment. Direct composite veneers (also referred to as composite bonding) are actually sculpted on your teeth rather than in an offsite lab. The tooth-shaded resin is applied to teeth directly (hence the name) where it can be shaped and sculpted by the dentist. The shaped resin is hardened using a high-intensity light, after which additional layers of resin can be applied and sculpted as needed to elicit the desired aesthetic outcome. Once finished, the resin must be polished in order to elicit a more natural, tooth-like appearance. The composite procedure therefore tends to be much less invasive and noticeably quicker than porcelain.
Arguably the biggest advantage that composite veneers have over porcelain is reversibility. Porcelain requires reshaping of your natural teeth in order to fit the veneer. When it comes to composites, minimal prep work is required on your natural teeth, meaning that they are not permanently altered to such an extent that the composite material cannot be removed and replaced as needed.
DisadvantagesUnfortunately, they are usually not as effective as porcelain in the long term. How natural they look will depend entirely on your dentist’s skills. Also, they are more vulnerable to damage such as chipping and staining
Issues or concerns with composite veneers are limited strength of the plastic filling material and its tendency to stain (especially over time) or have pitting on the surface of the veneers caused by air incorporation. In addition, the technique sensitivity of the process is high both for the adhesion of the veneer bonding material to the tooth as well as achieving a great cosmetic result. Most dentists tend to use one or perhaps two shades of composite resin with these veneers. The reality is that the best ceramists might utilize over ten different shades of porcelain to alter the hue, value, and chromatic characteristics of high-end veneer restorations. When having composite veneers placed, a mix of available composites possessing different colors, translucencies, and opacities should be correctly incorporated into the restorations to yield an ideal cosmetic result—a technique that most dentists do not care to spend the time to master. Typically, it will take just as much if not more time to correctly place a highly cosmetic direct composite veneer then it would take to have two appointments in which the laboratory would fabricate an all porcelain veneer. The potential for a lower cost composite veneer is often realized in the form of a monochromatic and less esthetic restoration.
It’s not uncommon for a patient to get composites as a temporary solution, for a couple years, while they save money for a porcelain upgrade
Although composite veneers have a number of advantages, there is one area in which they cannot compete with porcelain: durability. Porcelain is a far stronger material than composite resin (even with the improvements in resin materials over the years). Well-maintained porcelain veneers can last 10 to 15 years, compared to the five- to seven-year average lifespan of composites. It’s important to consider this tradeoff if you’re thinking of having veneers placed. That is, while composites may cost half as much as porcelain, they last only half as long. So which is the better value?g
If you are interested in learning more about porcelain Dental Bonding and Composite resin Veneers, you can read more info on the link provided below or you can schedule for a FREE cosmetic consultation, by calling our office at (613) 9629-7664. For your convenience, you may also fill out our online contact form
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Introductory about Dental Bonding and Composite Veneers
Cosmetic tooth Bonding
What is tooth bonding (dental bonding)and what are its indications?
Treatment Process and Cosmetic applications for dental bonding materials.
Composite vs Porcelain veneers -Which is Better?
Cosmetic Dental Bonding in Melbourne – Cheaper Alternative to Porcelain Veneer
How much does Dental Bonding & Composite Veneers Cost in Melbourne Bonding How Dental Bonding Can Alter the Look and Feel of Your Teeth Your Teeth and Dental Bonding Dental Bonding Video | Tooth Bonding READ MORE ABOUT SMILE MAKEOVER COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN MELBOURNE
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