Veneers are an incredibly popular cosmetic dentistry treatment. Providing an instant smile transformation, veneers can be applied to one or more teeth to address a wide number of issues.
One of the biggest decisions when you decide to go ahead with veneers is what material to choose.
Based in Huyton, Cromer House is a leading provider of both composite and porcelain veneers across the wider Liverpool area.
If you’re thinking of getting veneers, we can ensure you’re a good candidate plus advise on which type would suit you during your consultation.
In the meantime, here is what you need to know about porcelain and composite veneers to help you make an informed decision.
What are veneers for and how do they work?
Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite material which are placed over your natural teeth to change the shape and colour of your teeth.
To get veneers, a very thin layer of enamel usually needs to be removed (unless opting for ‘no prep veneers’). Your chosen material will then be placed over the surface of the tooth and cured into place.
During the process, your dentist can address any aspect of your smile you are unhappy with, such as the shape or colour of your teeth. You may also have gaps between your teeth or have teeth that are worn or irregularly shaped.
While your dentist may advise another treatment type, veneers have the distinct advantage of being able to target multiple aspects at once.
For instance, while teeth whitening can remove yellow stains, it would not change the shape of your teeth. But with veneers, the composite or porcelain would completely cover the tooth to change the colour and shape at the same time.
Many patients associate veneers with the ability to transform multiple teeth at once. However, the treatment can also be performed to correct any imperfections on a single tooth (i.e. to repair a crack).
Designed to offer a long lasting solution, veneers can remain on your teeth for 5-15 years depending on their material, plus how well you look after them. Once they reach the end of their lifespan, veneers will usually need to be redone.
Advantages of composite veneers
The biggest advantage of composite veneers is their relatively low cost compared with porcelain veneers. On average, you can expect to pay about half the cost if you opt for composite veneers.
You might also be familiar with composite fillings (also known as white fillings). Composite makes an equally good material for veneers as it’s easy to sculpt and fit onto your teeth. Not only can composite give you a natural look, but it’s also non-invasive and can even be removed down the line.
While composite is not quite as light reflective as porcelain, modern composite can provide a smooth texture to the surface of your teeth.
In many cases, composite veneers can offer a same-day application. This can give you a very speedy transformation if you decide to go ahead following your consultation.
How composite veneers are fitted
When you visit us at our Liverpool dental practice, we’ll begin your veneer treatment with a consultation. This allows us to ensure veneers are a good solution for your particular concerns.
We will also talk through your preferences for how you’d like your teeth to look.
Your dentist may take photos or scans to plan your new smile. At Cromer House, we have a fantastic range of dental technology to help us map out your treatment and help create the very best results!
If you decide to go ahead with composite veneers, the treatment will be performed in one session.
With composite, it may be the case that your dentist won’t have to remove any enamel. But sometimes, a small layer of enamel does need to be removed so that your composite veneers will fit well over your natural tooth surface. Whichever method is needed, you will not feel any discomfort.
The composite will be sculpted to achieve the desired results as discussed in your consultation. The composite will then be cured under a light which will make it set into place.
Before you leave, your dentist will perform any final finishing touches to refine the look of your veneers and check your bite.
Advantages of porcelain veneers
The main difference between porcelain vs composite veneers is that porcelain can offer a more lustrous result.
Also, the lifespan of porcelain veneers can be up to 15 years which means your veneers will need to be done less often compared with composite.
Granted, porcelain veneers are more expensive, but this is because they offer the best technology currently available for veneers.
While it’s very much down to the skill of the dentist, many people also agree that porcelain veneers look more realistic than composite. So, if you’re in search of a complete smile transformation, especially if you are looking to makeover a large number of teeth, porcelain offers a fantastic choice.
How porcelain veneers are fitted
If you’d like our Liverpool dentists to give you porcelain veneers, the initial process works much the same as porcelain veneers. That is, we’ll perform a thorough consultation to check if you’re a good candidate and we’ll map out your smile to give you a preview of the results.
However, there are some subtle differences in terms of how the treatment is performed.
Namely, porcelain veneers are custom-made in a lab, meaning you’ll usually need to wait a couple of weeks before we can fit them for you. In some cases, your dentist may give you temporary veneers until your porcelain veneers are ready.
To fit porcelain veneers, a thin layer of enamel will need to be removed. However, it’s good to note that your dentist will be conservative to only remove what is absolutely necessary for the veneers to adhere to your teeth properly. This greatly reduced invasiveness is a major difference in having veneers performed in the UK versus elsewhere.
Your dentist will take excellent care to ensure you do not feel any discomfort throughout.
The veneers will be bonded to your teeth and cured under a light. Your dentist will then perform any finishing checks to ensure you are happy with the results.
You may also be interested in: How a cosmetic dentist can give you the smile you’ve always wanted
What type of veneer is right for me?
While there are some functional differences between porcelain and composite veneers, the main thing to consider is your budget. As noted above, porcelain veneers are significantly more expensive than porcelain veneers since they offer the very best technology available and are also longer lasting.
So for a budget-friendly option or for small touch-ups, composite veneers are a great choice. Also, if you are in search of no prep veneers or minimal prep veneers.
But to achieve the very best results that will last the longest, porcelain is the material to opt for when choosing veneers. While more prep work is involved, porcelain veneers are capable of giving you the most impactful transformation, especially if you want a full smile makeover.
Interested in getting porcelain or composite veneers in Liverpool?
The choice between porcelain vs composite veneers is always something that should be discussed with your dentist.
Our friendly team here at Cromer House are looking forward to welcoming you as a new or existing patient.
Simply book a consultation for veneers to explore your treatment options with us.
Based in Huyton, we are conveniently located for patients across the wider Liverpool area.
Or, if you have any further questions about our dental treatments including veneers, please give us a call on 0151 489 2139.
