Whats the Difference Between Composite and Porcelain Veneers?

If you’re looking for an easy and fast way to refresh or renew your smile, then perhaps you’ve already looked into the world of veneers. Veneers are extremely popular in the cosmetic dental industry as they provide a quick makeover to smiles that are crooked, cracked, chipped, misaligned, separated, and badly discolored. It is a great way to get consistently bright, white looking teeth that look consistent together in terms of shape and size as well.

Once you’ve decided to have the veneers placed the next step is deciding what kind of material should be used for the veneers. There are two more commonly used materials that veneers can be fabricated in; composite resin and porcelain.

Both materials can have outcomes that are beautiful and strong in the beginning however one may fade or lose its luster much quicker than the other material. So how do you decide which material is right for you? Check out our material evaluation below to help you decide
which material to opt for when talking to your dentist about veneers.

Composite Resin

Composite resin materials used for veneers on average are half the price of porcelain veneers. This is a cheaper option if you are looking for veneers that don’t cost as much. For patients who have a tight budget and know that they are likely paying out-of- pocket for this treatment, as most insurance companies will not cover dental veneers, this may be the right option for you. Composite resin veneers can cost anywhere from $250 and $1000 per tooth.

Composite resin veneers are also very popular because they can be made typically on the spot for same-day treatment. Many patients opt for this material because they like to have their smile makeover all finished within one appointment.

The resin can be added to the teeth and sculpted by the dentist right there during the first appointment. Once the resin is cured or hardened the patient will be ready to go with their new set of veneers.

The resin will be polished and cleaned to give them a more tooth-like appearance because the composite resin isn’t necessarily the best material to mimic the look of natural teeth.

This material is also very popular because it often requires minimal reshaping of natural teeth in order to fit the veneer. The composite resin can just be applied on top of the natural teeth and layered in order to achieve the specific look at the dentist is going for. They don’t, however, last as long as
porcelain veneers.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a very popularly used material in cosmetic dentistry because it mimics the look and feel of natural teeth. It is also incredibly strong and can withstand a normal natural bite for far longer than composite resin.

Porcelain veneers are much more expensive than composite veneers because they are custom made to match every single tooth for the patients and will be bonded or glued on the teeth during a second appointment.

During the first appointments, the natural teeth must be trimmed and shaped in order to receive the veneers without making the natural teeth look too bulky. If the patient opts for porcelain veneers, it is a hard commitment, however, can last up to 15 years they’re well-maintained!

Contact Us

Interested in learning more about our veneer process? Read about our beautiful veneers here. Or, contact us via our online form and we'd be happy to setup a free consultation to talk about your new smile. We're also available during normal business hours at (303) 557-6453.

Want to just learn more about veneers in general? Read more about how long you can expect your porcelain veneers to last here.