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Porcelain Vs Composite Veneers: The Best Options For You

Veneers offer the best option for those looking to achieve the whitest and straightest smile in the room. As an expert in perfecting the ‘perfect smile’, we’ve explored the two options you can choose from depending on your needs and wishes.

What Are Veneers, and Why Do You Need Them?

Dental veneers are custom-made shells that attach to the front of your teeth to give them a fuller and brighter appearance. They are ideal for teeth which have succumbed to damage or decay that has broken, discoloured or chipped a tooth.

Veneers can be made from porcelain or a resin-composite material and can improve singular or multiple teeth, which may need to be fixed. Applying traditional dental veneers (porcelain veneers) involves filing the tooth down to provide a strong base for the shell’s attachment. The procedure is permanent and often requires the use of anaesthetic. However, as nervous patient dentists, we can offer dental sedative pain relief for ease of comfort for more anxious patients.

Advantages of Porcelain Veneers

There are many reasons patients often choose porcelain, the main being the life of the tooth. Porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years when looked after with good dental hygiene. They are also durable and much more robust than other options, offering the best stain resistance.

Porcelain is the best option if you want a long-term solution to having the perfect white smile with veneers. They are ideal for correcting multiple flaws in your teeth structure and can provide an instant, perfectly white smile. They are also easier on the gums, making them the recommended material for older patients.

Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers

Due to the work involved, porcelain veneers can come at a higher price than composite veneers. The procedure can take time and may require pain relief. Unfortunately, to achieve the perfect smile with beautiful porcelain veneers, your teeth need filing down to attach them, which cannot be reversed if you decide to change your mind.

As mentioned, these are permanent, which means once they have been cemented, they cannot be altered in shape or size. If they break, they will also need a complete replacement, and if there is not enough stability from your original tooth, they may not work as well for you. This can leave room for error if you choose a disreputable dentist without checking their credentials before the procedure.  

Advantages of Composite Veneers

Unlike porcelain veneers, composite bonding, also known as composite veneers, is minimally invasive and requires no injections. They are more cost-effective than crowns or porcelain veneers, and there is no need to remove part of the tooth. A resin is applied directly or shaped and custom-made to a specific shape and size in a dental lab and is employed with adhesive. The installation can take one day to complete and is easy to remove without harming your teeth.

Composite veneers are popular for younger patients who may be undecided about whether they wish to permanently alter their teeth to achieve the perfect smile with porcelain veneers. Composite bonding and veneers can be easily removed, restoring the teeth to their original shape and size. Once the resin has been placed, there is still the option to adjust the shape and size of them to get them designed perfectly to how you need them without worrying about damaging your teeth.

Disadvantages of Composite veneers

Composite veneers are not as durable as porcelain, leading them to chip and crack more easily. They also aren’t as stain resistant, meaning if you smoke or drink coffee regularly, they are likely to become discoloured over time.

They also don’t last as long, with most veneers spanning a maximum of 7 years before needing to replace them. So, although they are the cheaper option, you may find yourself replacing them more often than with porcelain.

What to Look for When Considering Veneers?

The most crucial step you need to take when considering veneers is to discuss your options with a dental expert. As a leading cosmetic dentist in Manchester, we understand the importance of finding a treatment that suits your needs and wishes. The consultation offers the patient and the dentist the chance to get to know each other and what each side would like to achieve before jumping straight into treatment.

When choosing the correct treatment plan, you must consider your lifestyle. If you can spend the time getting your teeth filed into the ideal shape for porcelain veneers to achieve the perfect smile makeover and looking for a more permanent solution, porcelain is the best option. However, if you are looking for a temporary choice for a few years, we can provide two options to achieve beautiful pearly whites. With our composite bonding in Manchester, we can produce hand-carved resin veneers done directly on your original teeth. You can choose our digital smile design, which allows you to design and see your new teeth before committing to the procedure.

Most importantly, the decision must be discussed with a reputable dentist. As private dentists in Manchester, we often hear of corners being cut, leading to teeth needing replacing due to false claims and inexperienced facial aesthetic dentists promising work they have never completed. We may offer some of the most competitive private dentist manchester prices, but we offer a font of excellency, experience and the know-how to provide you with a perfect smile. Please speak to our team today about finding the correct procedure for you to get the brightest and most perfectly aligned teeth in the room.

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