Composite Veneer & Porcelain Veneer - How Are They Different?

Altered tooth shape or color affects not just the aesthetics, but also the person’s social image and self confidence. It can convert them into introverts who shy away from socialization. Teeth can lose their shape or color due to various reasons from hypo mineralized teeth to food/tobacco stains to fractures to tooth decay.

Where the discoloration is minimal or the teeth misshaped to a very minimal level, veneer is a good option. Veneer is where a thin layer of the tooth material is removed, and artificial material (either composite or CERAMIC ) is used to replace this tooth. While composite resin veneers are fabricated over the affected tooth in a single sitting, the porcelain veneer requires taking impressions and the veneers are fabricated in the lab, which are then fixed on the tooth.

Veneer also help correct minor discolorations and also misshaped teeth. The choice of using composite or porcelain depends on a number of factors. Composite resin has a big advantage of reversibility. If the end result if not very satisfactory, then the entire restoration can be removed and a new veneer can be applied. With porcelains, the biggest advantage is their excellent resistance to staining. Even with long term use of coffee and tea, the chances of staining the porcelain veneers would be minimal.

Some of the properties of composite include:

1. The material is extremely plastic and resinous, allowing sufficient working time for the dentist to achieve the desired shape and size of the veneer
2. It is slightly porous and therefore, has a tendency to absorb water over a period of time and take in some stain
3. Should be polished extremely well to achieve the natural looks
4. Requires less tooth reduction than a porcelain, thereby saving more natural tooth structure
5. May require replacement after about 3 to 5 years
6. Can be done in one dental clinic visit

Some of the unique characteristics of porcelain include:

1. The result of a well-done porcelain veneer produces an extremely natural looking tooth
2. The best advantage of porcelain is that it is not porous and therefore once it is glazed, does not stain over a period of time. The typical discoloration around the edges of the veneers seen in composite restorations is not seen with porcelain veneers
3. These veneers therefore last longer than the composite resin veneers
4. They are more expensive compared to the composite resin veneers. They require at least two dental visits

The choice of the material for veneer and the result would depend ultimately on the patient’s aesthetic requirements and overall oral health maintenance. Having a detailed discussion with the dentist will help in choosing the right material and getting the maximum benefit out of it.