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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Dental Veneers: Composite and Porcelain

Dental veneers can be thought of as a layer or shell of porcelain or composite that is created to be the same color of the tooth, and designed to fit over it perfectly. This is for the purpose of improving the tooth’s overall appearance as well as correcting certain conditions, such as uneven tooth alignment or spacing, discoloration, tooth enamel deterioration, chips or cracks, or unsightly fillings.

Even though dental veneers are categorized as cosmetic dentistry, they can also help to protect the surface of damaged teeth and can even possibly remove the need for any future treatments. They also offer durability and lessen the need to remove tooth structure (as compared to dental crowns.)

The two most common types of veneers are porcelain and composite veneers, and each has their own advantages over the other. Porcelain veneers are very durable and can last for many years, sometimes up to 15 years, given the proper care. On the other hand, composite veneers last only from 4 to 8 years, but cost less.

Dental veneers may not be for everyone. The procedure, when done, is irreversible if tooth structure is removed. An experienced dentist would be able to determine whether or not dental veneers would be the right choice for a patient’s teeth or situation. When having veneers placed, it would take one to two days, depending on the type that is placed. Generally, composite veneers would only take one trip to the dentist, while porcelain veneers would take two.

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