What Are Veneers? An In-Depth Overview of Dental Veneers
Are you unhappy with the shape and size of your teeth? Do you want to get a new smile that will make you attractive? If so, then the dental veneers can enhance the appearance of your teeth. The experts of veneers McLean says that damaged, malformed, or discolored teeth can affect a person’s self-esteem. They lose their confidence while talking or smiling at others. In recent years, dental veneers got immense popularity by not only changing the appearance but also giving you natural-looking teeth. So, if you have noticed a broken tooth or do not prefer the color and want to whiten them, then dental veneers are the perfect solution for it.
But before you make selection of dental veneer solution, you should be aware of what this process is, their types, and which one is perfect for you. In this article, we have penned down all those details to share the knowledge with you.
Meaning of dental veneers
A veneer is a wafer-thin material that covers the front surface of your teeth. It helps to give your teeth a more realistic color and shaped look. Besides, as they come with customized fittings, they can conceal dental damages like stains, chips and tiny missing pieces, tooth decay, crookedness, or even gaps.
You can veneer one or multiple teeth as per your preference. Additionally, you can go for partial veneers that will not cover your entire tooth. They are beneficial if you do not want to consider other dental remedies like braces or teeth whitening. But the whole process is complicated and expensive. Dentist take out small quantity of enamel to place the veneers. Besides, they are permanent, and you cannot remove them.
Different varieties of Veneers
Veneers are available in different materials and colors. The dental veneers are thin, durable, stain-resistant, and can withstand the wear and tear of your teeth. There are only three types of dental veneers out there. They are porcelain, resin-based composite, and ceramic veneers. In the below section, we have explained these alternatives in more detail.
• Porcelain Veneers
These veneers are popular among patients who want to change their tooth shape, color, and size. Porcelain veneers are a thin, strong, and custom-fit layer set on the sides and top of your teeth. To fix them, a dentist will formulate a temporary veneer and remove a little bit of enamel before attaching them.
• Resin-based Composite Veneers
These veneers are composed of tooth-colored composite resin. People like them because of their cost-effectiveness. Besides, they are easy to attach and require no enamel removal before placing them.
• Ceramic Veneers
Ceramic veneers provide a natural appearance and are long-lasting. But they take more time to set than others. Additionally, you may face tooth sensitivity after attaching them.
Which one among the above is the best for you?
Selecting the best veneer is evident. From the above three options, you can choose any. But there are some primary discrepancies among them. Below, we shared a table to understand their key differences.
Porcelain |
Resin-based Composite |
Ceramic |
Highly durable and last for 20 years |
lasts around five years |
Lasts around 10 to 15 years |
Requires enamel removal |
No enamel removal |
Needs enamel removal |
Highly expensive |
Cost-effective |
Half cost of porcelain veneers |
Difficult to attach |
Easier to attach |
Easier to attach |
Will not stain |
Stain as time goes on |
Can resist stain |
No tooth sensitivity |
Tooth sensitivity is absent |
Might face tooth sensitivity |
Less prone to break |
Prone to break or chip |
Less prone to fracture than resin-based composite |
So, from the above table, you can see that porcelain veneers are much more ahead in the race than the other two. Besides, though all of them offer a natural appearance, the porcelain veneers give a slightly more realistic look. Additionally, they last longer and cover more damaged and malformed teeth as well.