Veneers
Veneers
Composite Veneers
The most popular type of veneer other than porcelain is the composite veneer. Composite resin is a slightly cheaper material and can be applied by your dentist in a single visit making them a cheaper and more convenient option for some. However, composite veneers tend to discolor and chip a lot more easily and have a much shorter lifespan of approximately 5-7 years. By contrast, porcelain veneers last up to 10-15 years depending on lifestyle and oral hygiene habits. It is possible for composite veneers to be repaired if they chip or break, whereas damaged porcelain veneers will need complete replacement. If you’re looking for veneers in your local area, composite options might be a good option for younger wearers but porcelain veneers tend to offer greater value in the long term.
Zirconia Veneers
Zirconia oxide is another type of ceramic that can be used to create veneers. Due to the material (in its crystallized form, zirconium is often used as a diamond substitute) zirconia veneers can offer stronger protection for your teeth. For this reason, they are often used for patients with more serious problems with their teeth, for example extensive damage or decay. Zirconia is also particularly good at withstanding wear and tear from chewing and biting and can also be used effectively for the back teeth where more pressure is likely to be applied preventing any premature damage to the veneers. Although you can select a specific shade to match your own teeth, porcelain veneers are still better at mimicking the appearance of your original teeth. This is due to their translucency as it allows light to reflect from your teeth in a more natural way.
What Is Prepless Veneers?
Prepless veneers are used to reshape and repair the appearance of your teeth to help you reach your aesthetic smile goals and provide a very natural tooth appearance. Multiple veneers can produce very dramatic and almost instant improvements in your smile, as 'before and after' photos clearly demonstrate.
Prepless dental veneers fit over the existing tooth without the prep step of removing the base tooth material and are made of thinner material than traditional dental veneers. These are often sold under the name of ‘Lumineers’ which is a specific brand of prepless dental veneers.
Since prepless dental veneers are positioned on top of existing teeth, the appearance of the teeth will be larger and may be a good solution for patients hesitant to file down healthy tooth enamel. Prepless veneers are popular because of the preservation of natural tooth structure and the ability to reverse the procedure in the future.
Veneers Advantages
Although porcelain veneers have advantages, there are multiple disadvantages as well:
- The veneers are durable but they can get break on biting or eating something very hard and whenever they break, you are required to replace them.
- The natural enamel of your teeth has to be removed in order to apply these veneers resulting in sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Porcelain veneers are not for everybody. If your teeth are prone to tooth decay this may not be the right choice for you.
- Porcelain veneers can be highly costly with a price tag of between $700 to $2000.
During the process of placement of dental veneers, we provide temporaries which mimic the shade and color of the permanent veneers very closely.
Conclusion:
Comparing the images of Veneers ‘Before & After’, positive impacts always outweigh the negative. As a result, when a cosmetic dentist recommends porcelain veneers for your teeth, as they say, “Put your money where your mouth is” because a beautiful smile is life changing!