Let’s just get this out of the way: yes, porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite veneers. There’s no getting away from that fact, but it’s similarly impossible to deny that porcelain’s many advantages over composite still make it an attractive choice.
The type of veneers you choose will ultimately come down to personal preference, but here are just four reasons why you might want to consider porcelain over composite.
- More Natural Appearance
The major draw of porcelain is its appearance. Porcelain boasts a semi-translucent appearance that slightly reflects light. That’s a quality similar to your natural tooth enamel, so porcelain can mimic the appearance of natural teeth incredibly well. Composite veneers can still look great, but they will never look quite as authentic.
- More Resistant to Staining
One of the great things about veneers is being able to totally reinvent your smile, and you’ll naturally want that change to last for as long as possible. The trouble with composite is that it’s a porous resin. This means staining compounds can discolour it, just like your natural teeth can be discoloured. This is one reason why composite veneers don’t last as long. In contrast, porcelain is glazed and totally impervious. You could drink black coffee and red wine for the life of the veneer (usually around 15 years) without worrying about stains.
- More Durable
Any kind of veneer can chip, crack, or fracture – it’s unlikely to happen, but it’s still a risk you need to accept. If you’re worried, opting for porcelain veneers over composite veneers makes a lot of sense. Porcelain is a much tougher material than composite, so porcelain veneers are far less likely to break or require any corrective maintenance.
- More Versatile
A secondary benefit of porcelain’s durability is its ability to cover larger areas. If you have large spaces between your teeth or short teeth you’d like to lengthen, porcelain veneers are probably going to be recommended.
To discuss the different options available to you, get in contact with your local dentist today.
