Blog

Do you find yourself hiding your smile because of discolored, chipped, or crooked teeth? Veneers can hide an array of dental imperfections and might provide the confidence boost you need to put your smile in full view! But how do you know which type of veneer is a good fit for your specific needs - porcelain or composite (Instant Veneers)? 

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are very fine shells that your cosmetic dentist bonds to the front of your teeth to help improve their overall shape and colour, making for a more aesthetic smile. A veneer can hide stained, chipped, crooked, or gapped teeth. Placing a veneer requires retaining more of your natural tooth than a dental crown, commonly used to strengthen heavily decayed or broken-down teeth.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain shaped to fit over the front side of your tooth. The material matches the shape and color of your permanent teeth for a look so natural that it's difficult to tell them apart from your other teeth. Choosing porcelain veneers comes with several advantages, including:

• Strength. If you want your veneers to last, porcelain provides unparalleled strength. When well-maintained with regular check-ups and hygiene appointments, these veneers can last for 10-15 years.
• Appearance. With its translucent quality, porcelain most closely matches the look of a natural tooth. It's also resistant to both stains and chips.
• Versatility. Porcelain veneers provide a viable treatment option for almost all cosmetic concerns.

What Are Instant Veneers?

Instant Veneers, otherwise known as composite veneers, are a tooth-colored resin used to improve the appearance of your teeth. Unlike their porcelain counterpart, the dentist applies the resin directly to the tooth and then sculpts and shapes it to achieve the desired aesthetic, meaning there's no need to prep your own natural teeth. You might choose Instant Veneers for several reasons, including:

• Price. Composite resin is a less expensive material and doesn't require a dental lab to create them, making these veneers more affordable. 
• Same-day treatment. Because composite veneers do not need to be sent to a lab, you can  walk out with a new smile in one 45 minute appointment in some cases.
• Reversibility. Composite veneers require minimal prep work on your natural tooth so that composite material can be more easily removed, replaced, and repaired.
• More patients are choosing composite veneers due to the minimally invasive nature. They are more conservative of tooth structure than ever before. Often they can be combined with invisalign to first straighten the teeth.