Porcelain vs Composite Dental Veneers?

Patients are sometimes confused by the choice of these two materials. We look at the pros and cons for our Acton patients.

After a teeth whitening procedure, perhaps the most popular solution for fast smile enhancement is to have dental veneers fitted. These are also often more suitable for patients who have other flaws in their smile such as chips, cracks or heavy staining. Despite some of the stories you may have heard in the media, such as the now infamous ‘Turkey teeth’ which were carried out abroad, it is very safe treatment when carried out by a suitably qualified dentist, such as our own, and should greatly improve your smile.

While most patients here at Acton Vale Dental Centre will be more familiar with the porcelain version of this cosmetic procedure, there are also composite ones available too. As these are usually cheaper, it can be tempting to opt for them, but the old saying that ‘you get what you pay for’ is largely true in this instance.

Let us take a look then at some of the key differences between the two types of veneers.

The basics

The most obvious thing to note is that one is made from porcelain and the other isn’t! In order to provide porcelain veneers, it is usually necessary to ‘shave’ away a fine layer from the front of the teeth in question. Impressions are then taken which the dental laboratory will use to create the veneers. These will then be attached to your teeth using a special adhesive before being trimmed and polished to give them a natural appearance. While ‘shaving’ may be necessary with composite veneers, this is much rarer and the composite material is usually applied directly to the front of the teeth and then sculpted to give you a natural looking tooth.

Appearance

When you have the latest porcelain veneers fitted to your teeth, they look natural but also, due to their stain resistant properties, will stay white and not stain for a very long time; usually in the region of ten years or more. With composite veneers, these can still look good but they are likely to deteriorate much faster than porcelain and will also stain more easily due to their porous nature. If you are looking for a ‘quick fix’ for a one off event, they are a useful option in some instances, but most people are looking to improve their smile for a period of time and in this situation, porcelain veneers win hands down.

Longevity

As just mentioned, porcelain veneers can last for ten years or longer, providing that you look after them correctly with good brushing and flossing around the natural part of the tooth they are attached to. Composite veneers will probably last for a little under half that time, but are also likely to lose their aesthetic appeal much sooner as teas, coffee and red wines etc start to discolour the porous composite material.  Porcelain is also a much stronger material whereas composite can chip and crack more easily with day to day wear and tear.

Cost

It does cost more to have porcelain veneers fitted initially, but we believe that they offer our patients better value for money. Once attached, you should need no further treatment if you look after them, whereas you might need to make a few local dental visits to restore damaged composite veneers. One word of caution; please think twice about travelling abroad to have this treatment done. It can be hard to gauge how reliable a dentist is in some countries and although you might pay less initially, you may also end up with a problematic tooth that may even cause some discomfort. If you are considering doing this, please make an appointment to see one of our dentists to discuss this before you do. They will also be able to offer you advice on the useful payment plans that we have available to help you spread the cost of the treatment.

Your first step

If you are looking to have a whiter smile and you suspect that your teeth would only get limited benefit from a tooth whitening procedure, the best thing that you can do is to arrange an initial consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists who will be able to discuss the treatment in more detail as well as examine your teeth to make sure they are healthy. There is little point attaching a veneer to a tooth that is already decaying as it could change the shape of the tooth and make the veneer less secure.

If you would like more information about the porcelain veneers we offer at our local Acton clinic or would like to book your initial consultation with us, please call the Acton Vale Dental Centre today on 020 8749 3267. We look forward to meeting you!