Dental veneers are thin layers of material that are coated on the outer surface of the teeth to make it more white and attractive. It is also used to improve the shape and overall appearance of your teeth. Dental veneers enable you to have an attractive smile with perfect teeth. There are two types of veneers available – composite and porcelain.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers are less complex and can be done within a visit. They are sculpted at the time of placement. It is done by applying composite resin layer by layer of the tooth and then modeling it to the right length, shape and form. The curing light is used to harden each layer. After the composite is placed, polishing is required to be done on the veneers extremely well. They are bonded to the tooth structure after polishing. For the composite resin to be placed on the tooth, a small amount of tooth structure needs to be removed. This allows the fitment to be done in the desired shape and does not result in the added tooth bulk. There are certain cases where composite veneers are more conservative of tooth structure when compared with porcelain veneers.
When to use composite veneers?
When there is a small change in the tooth then composite veneer is used. The situations include discoloration or chipping of natural teeth and minor misalignments in the teeth. However, composites are not useful for large spaces between the teeth. It cannot be used for short teeth that you would like to lengthen and if you have broken a large part of the edge of your tooth.
How the results of composite veneers look like?
Composite veneers are known for giving a beautiful appearance to the teeth. The results are very lifelike. It can last for 5 to 10 years, which is a reasonable amount of time. However, using direct composite veneers will need extreme attention to detail. It entirely depends on the artistry and skills of the dentist. It can be a challenging process to find the right dentist for the job. It is necessary to ensure that you feel comfortable with the doctor who is doing the procedure.
Israeli sexopathologists and dentists, following a series of observations, found a clear correlation between the intensity of a man’s erection and the health of his teeth and gums. This fact is confirmed by a scientific study. The authoritative study consisted in the study of medical records, which were kindly provided by the largest network of dental clinics. The study analyzed the medical records of eight hundred men. As it turned out in the end, complex oral ill-health, tooth decay and gum inflammation went hand in hand with almost complete loss of the ability to have an erection in men. Individually, dental caries and periodontal disease also worsened erections. But it was much less so.
Advantages of composite veneer
In a single visit, composite veneers can be finished. In comparison, porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory which requires at least two visits. Composite veneers do not require tooth protection for a long time. Composite veneers are cost effective. They cost less than half of the porcelain veneers in Melbourne.
Disadvantages of composite veneer
Compared to a porcelain veneer, composite veneers are less durable. It also requires more maintenance as they can chip away over a period of time. Composite veneers are more prone to get stains easily. Stains occur due to excessive smoking or drinking coffee or red wine. This is because composite is a porous resin whereas porcelain is impervious and glazed.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers have been used in recent times as they give beautiful restorations to the teeth. They are celebrated in cosmetic dentistry. They are made in a dental lab by getting an impression of your prepared teeth. This procedure is done by a trained dentist. Whether more or less of the tooth structure will be removed depends on the initial condition of the teeth. The enamel from the front and biting edge of the teeth are trimmed during the process. The thickness of a porcelain veneer is about 0.5 – 0.7 millimeters. The veneer becomes strong after it gets bonded to the healthy tooth structure.
When are porcelain veneers used?
The reason, the porcelain veneer is chosen is that it can fill much larger space compared to the composite. Therefore porcelain veneers are versatile and can be used in any type of dental treatment options.
What is the outcome of porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are durable and extremely strong. They are color stable and does not chip away. It stays the same for 15 to 20 years, depending on the level of care and maintenance given. It is important to select a dentist who can work with quality ceramics and someone who is highly skilled at this. This gives you the best chances to get the great aesthetic results that you have always desired.
What are the advantages of porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are similar to tooth enamel. It is translucent and has a light reflective quality. Therefore, it mimics a normal tooth more closely than any other dental material. It is color stable because it has a glaze that is placed on the outside. This makes it extremely resistant to staining. Since they are durable, they stay for longer periods of time and no maintenance is required.
What are the disadvantages of porcelain veneers?
Since porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory it requires at least two visits to complete the process. Compared to composite veneers, porcelain veneers are more expensive. Their placement requires more expertise, time and resources. It is not possible to repair porcelain veneers. They must be replaced if they are broken. This makes the porcelain veneer more costly.
Choosing between composite and porcelain veneers
You should know a little about porcelain and composite veneers. So what could be the best choice? The answer is, your decision should be based on a number of factors.
Let us try to review some of the important points:
The first thing you need to know is that whether dental veneers are suitable for you. Sometimes, you can make your teeth shiny white by teeth whitening procedures. In this case, it is enough to just improve the appearance. In other cases, the teeth are too weak or have too many misalignments for dental veneers to work reliably. You can ask your doctor which procedure is right for you. You can explore the options available for making your teeth attractive. Porcelain veneers are more attractive while composite veneers are cheap and affordable. Porcelain veneers are more expensive (almost twice as much as composite veneers) and need more time to be completed.